The President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma last night, 25 March 2014, returned from his working visit to Luanda, in the Republic of Angola where he attended a mini Summit of the International Conference of African Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

President Zuma described the summit as a positive and constructive engagement as it discussed and agreed on various critical security issues affecting particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and the entire Great Lakes Region.

“The summit was successful and we have registered positive progress since the previous ICGLR ordinary summit in January 2014. We have discussed and reviewed in detail the overall security situation prevailing in the Great Lakes Region and in Southern Africa and have agreed on necessary measures,” the President said.

With regards to relations between South Africa and the Republic of Rwanda, the matter was discussed by the summit and there was agreement that the two countries must discuss the issue and find a mutually agreeable solution.

South Africa, as a signatory to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and a member of the Regional Oversight Mechanism, supports the efforts of the ICGLR at seeking a lasting political solution in the Great Lakes Region in line with South Africa’s foreign policy which promotes a peaceful resolution of conflicts and discourages unconstitutional changes of government.

President Zuma was accompanied by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of State Security, Dr Siyabonga Cwele.