Addis Ababa — The search for solutions to the crisis in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, dominated the extraordinary summit of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

The Angolan Vice President, Manuel Vicente, represented the Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, in the meeting that was held in the sidelines of the 20th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.

According to the executive secretary of SADc, Tomás Salomão, it was decided to support the recommendations made by the SADC heads of defence and security and the ministerial committee of this organ tasked with co-ordinating the neutral force for an intervention in the DRC.

He informed that SADC envisages to collect by March about USD 100 million to launch the operation.

Tomás Salomão said that SADC needs to work in close collaboration with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the United Nations.

He also informed that the number of countries willing to help the DRC has increased, emphasising countries like Angola, South Africa and Namíbia.

The DRC authorities have been facing insurgencies in the Kivu Nord region, with highlight on the M23 group, which have caused innumerable deaths and displaced people.