Title: The opening of the meeting of the SADC justice ministers committee in Kinshasa marks a major step towards regional integration
Introduction :
The official opening of the meeting of the committee of ministers of justice of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) took place this Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This annual gathering aims to facilitate exchanges on legal and judicial problems common to SADC member countries, as well as to promote the establishment of community standards. This meeting is of particular importance as ministers consider draft legal instruments and consider ways to strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms among member states.
Constructive discussions for regional integration:
During his opening speech, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde underlined the importance of the progress made in implementing the decisions taken at the previous meeting of the Committee in 2022. He also emphasized the development of new draft legal instruments aimed at strengthening regional integration within SADC.
The Prime Minister also touched on the issue of disputes between member states, stressing the importance of finding peaceful solutions to preserve peace, security and regional cooperation. He expressed concern over Rwanda’s alleged aggression via M23 rebel groups in the east of the country, and called for strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms to avoid further conflict.
Key instrument projects on the agenda:
The agenda of the meeting included consideration of draft legal instruments which require legal clearance before being recommended to the Council of Ministers and SADC summit for final approval and adoption. Among these projects are a Protocol on Employment and Labor, as well as a Declaration to accelerate the fight against AIDS as a threat to public health in the SADC region by 2030.
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of taking into account the concerns expressed by Member States when examining these projects, in order to ensure their full buy-in and their effective implementation. He referred to the previous meeting of the Committee in 2014, which recommended a similar project but did not result in adoption. He expressed the hope that this time, the work will lead to concrete and beneficial resolutions for the region.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, a committed player in regional integration:
The holding of this meeting in Kinshasa is of particular importance for the Democratic Republic of Congo. As current chair of SADC, the country has an opportunity to actively contribute to regional integration and promote solutions for common legal and judicial challenges among member states. The Democratic Republic of Congo also expressed its gratitude to SADC for its support in the context of the regional conflict and reaffirmed its commitment to stability and regional unity.
Conclusion :
The opening of the meeting of the SADC justice ministers committee in Kinshasa marks an important step towards regional integration within SADC. The constructive discussions between ministers are aimed at strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms, promoting the application of community standards and fostering peace and cooperation among member states