The Democratic Republic of Congo government began political consultations with a view of forming a government of national unity amid an escalating security crisis in the eastern part of the country, officials have announced.
Views on forming a unity government will be sought from political and social actors including the Sacred Union, the ruling parliamentary coalition, opposition parties within and outside parliament, civil society, and prominent national figures, according to Eberande Kolongele, DRC’s president security advisor who is leading the consultations.
“When the homeland is in danger, the Head of State has the duty to mobilise all forces to bar the way to the enemy,” Eberande said in a statement issued by the prime minister’s office.
DRC’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, and Sama Lukonde, the country’s Senate president, were among those who presented their views on Monday.
TRT Global - The government says it hopes the move would be translated into concrete action after M23 this week pulled out of planned talks with DRC authorities at the last minute due to EU sanctions on some of its leaders and Rwandan officials.
Cohesion, unity
Lukonde said the political consultations are part of a spirit of national cohesion and national unity, in the face of the security situation in eastern Congo.
“The exchanges are open to all members of the opposition as well as Congolese civil society.
The goal here is to achieve the formation of an inclusive government,” he told reporters in the capital Kinshasa.
In February, DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi announced plans to establish a government of national unity as part of efforts to address the conflict in eastern Congo.
For about three decades, eastern DRC has been facing insecurity posed by several armed groups.
About 6.7 million people were internally displaced by violence before the latest escalation and over one million Congolese live as refugees across Africa, according to the United Nations.
TRT Global - Angola is expected to host peace talks between the DRC government and rebels on Tuesday.
