Defence and foreign ministers from the Great Lakes and Southern African regions resolved on Monday that military action be taken against Rwandan rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo if they do not disarm and surrender by January 2 next year.
A communique issued by the South African foreign ministry on Tuesday said the decision had been taken by members of a ministerial meeting of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) held in Luanda, Angola.
The ministers said they had reviewed reports on an ultimatum they issued in July requiring the "Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR)" to voluntarily surrender and disarm within six months. The FDLR has its roots in the Hutu militia responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
The communique said the review showed that "there has not been progress concerning the voluntary disarmament and surrender of the FDLR..." As a result the ministers "reiterated military action as decided by the Heads of State and Government against the FDLR should take place in event of non-compliance... up to 2nd January 2015."
The ministers also asked the United Nations mission in the DR Congo and the Kinshasa government to create conditions in reception centres and transit camps which would enable those FDLR troops willing to disarm to do so.
