The official opening of the meeting of the SADC Justice Ministers Committee took place in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday, July 20, 2023. This major event brought together the Justice Ministers of SADC member countries, with some delegations present physically and others by videoconference.
This annual meeting aims to facilitate exchanges and discussions around common legal and judicial problems, as well as to ensure the implementation of community standards. Congolese Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde kicked off the event and stressed the importance of strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms among SADC Member States, with the aim of promoting peace, security and regional cooperation.
In his opening speech, the Prime Minister also expressed his concern over Rwandan aggression towards the DRC, noting the atrocities committed such as massacres, rapes, looting and massive population displacements. He stressed the need for continued support from SADC to address this situation and reaffirmed the Congolese government’s commitment to regional peace and security.
During the meeting, Ministers of Justice considered draft legal instruments which require legal clearance before being recommended to the Council of Ministers and the SADC Summit for final approval and adoption. Among these projects are a Protocol on Employment and Labor, as well as a Declaration on Accelerating Action to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat in the SADC Region by 2030.
The Prime Minister expressed his wish that the work of the meeting could contribute to the concretization of integration in the justice sector and that the conclusions of the discussions would be useful to the conference of Heads of State and Government of SADC. He encouraged participants to show dynamism and inventiveness to promote the influence of SADC.
The holding of this meeting of the SADC justice ministers committee in Kinshasa testifies to the resumption of the leadership role of the DRC within this sub-regional organization. This is an important opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in the legal and judicial field and find solutions to common challenges faced by member countries.
Sources:
– [Link article 1](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/21/operations-conjointes-fardc-updf-neutralisation-de-16-rebelles-adf-et-liberation-de-24-otages-un-pas-de-plus-vers-la-securite-dans-le-nord-kivu/)
– [Link article 2](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/21/la-couverture-sante-universelle-en-rdc-les-cles-dune-mise-en-place-reussie/)
– [Link article 3](https://fatshimetry.org/blog/2023/07/21/for-a-hard-hitting-title-I-propose-the-importance-of-a-dedicated-health-fund-for-universal-coverage-in-rd-congo-a-viable-and-equitable-approach/)
– [Link article 4](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/21/la-couverture-sante-universelle-des-exemplifies-inspirational-of-success-in-the-rdc/)
– [Link article 5](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/21/tensions-explosives-entre-kinshasa-et-kigali-la-communaute-internationale-en-alert-face-a-une-possible-rwandaise-military-intervention-in-rd-congo/)
– [Link to article 6](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/20/le-canada-maintient-sa-participation-aux-jeux-de-la-francophonie-de-kinshasa-despite-the-problemes-de-securite-focus-sur-les-mesures-prises-pour-guarantir-la-securite-des-participants/)
– [Link article 7](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/20/vodacom-congo-et-trans-academia-sassociant-pour-revolutionner-le-paiement-des-frais-de-transport-des-etudiants/)
– [Link article 8](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/20/rdc-la-preparation-du-processus-electoral-suscite-des-inquietudes-et-appelle-a-la-mobilisation/)
– [Link article 9](https://fatshimetry