Seychelles Founding President returns from COMESA Mediation Mission

It was announced from Glacis-sur-Mer that Seychelles Founding President James R.

It was announced from Glacis-sur-Mer that Seychelles Founding President James R. Mancham returned to Seychelles yesterday afternoon after leading, in his capacity as a member of the COMESA Committee of the Elders and the Wise, a COMESA mediation mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwanda.

The purpose of the mission was to clearly understand the situation in the Eastern DRC and support the ongoing peace efforts aimed at restoring relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Sir James was accompanied by Mr. Daniel Belle of Victoria, who is involved in legal and human rights affairs.

The delegation included HE Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat of Kenya, Chairman of Kenya Truth Commission; HE Ambassador Simbi Veke Mubako, former Minister of Justice and Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the USA; and HE Mr. David Bandawe, High Commissioner to Zambia and Chairman of Peace and Security Commission of COMESA.

The delegation was assisted by important members of the COMESA Secretariat: Ms. Elizabeth Mutunga, Mr. Thierry Kalongi, Mr. Karanke Mursi, Mr. Walter Talma, and Ms. Muleya.

In Kinshasa, the delegation held several meetings which included discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; the Minister of Internal Security, Decentralization and Traditional Affairs; and the Deputy Minister of International Cooperation.

In Kigali, the delegation met and had discussions with the Prime Minister, Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi; the Minister for Defense and several members of the Military High Command; the Minister of Trade and Industry; and the Chairman of the AMANI (Peace) Forum, Rwanda Chapter.

The delegation will be submitting a report of and concerning the mission to the Secretary General of COMESA, HE Mr. Sindiso Ngwenga, for ultimate consideration by the COMESA Summit scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda on November 23 and 24, 2012.

In a statement issued on his arrival in Seychelles, Sir James Mancham said that he was impressed with the hospitality extended by the two governments and was particularly impressed by their positive interest in a COMESA mediation involvement in the prevailing contentions between the two governments.

Sir Mancham said that the core objective of COMESA is to promote regional integration as much as possible with a view to maximize the trading potentials which exist between member states.

โ€œIt, of course, follows that COMESA is very much interested in seeing peace and stability within the region with a view to encourage investment and bring about economic growth and prosperity,โ€ he said, adding that perhaps the most important outcome of the mission was the confirmation that both nations appreciate the need of dialogue to resolve their conflict.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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