Heads of State from Angola, Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda will in coming days hold a summit virtually, officials with insight to the matter say. The meeting which was convened by the DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi was initially planned to be held in the border town of Goma and attended physically by Heads of State of the five countries. However, The New Times understands that following consultation, a decision was reached to hold the meeting virtually in light of the Covid-19 pandemic which has among other things seen land borders across the region closed. The date of the virtual meeting is yet to be set. While the summit’s agenda is not yet clear, the key issues of common interest include regional stability, security and countering terrorism. Angola and DR Congo are also involved as mediators in restoring warm ties between Rwanda and Uganda through the Ad Hoc Commission on the Implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Luanda in 2019. Burundi has new leadership under the President Évariste Ndayishimiye and could be interested in increased regional cooperation on various aspects.
