South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, on Tuesday morning to address the escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ramaphosa’s official working visit to Uganda commenced on Monday, with his arrival at Entebbe International Airport. He was warmly received by Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. John Mulimba.
According to Uganda’s State House, President Museveni extended the invitation to President Ramaphosa, and the two leaders are slated to convene at State House-Entebbe to discuss bilateral relations and pertinent regional issues.
The South African presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa’s discussions with President Museveni will primarily focus on matters related to regional security and stability.
South Africa maintains a military presence in the DRC, where its troops have played a crucial role in thwarting the advances of M23 rebels in strategic areas such as Sake and Goma. However, recent incidents, including the death of a South African soldier who shot a colleague before committing suicide, underscore the challenges faced by the troops in the volatile region.
Ramaphosa’s visit follows his participation in the 30th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsis in Kigali, Rwanda, where he also held discussions with President Paul Kagame regarding Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebels.
This meeting marks Ramaphosa’s second visit to Uganda in 2024, following his attendance at the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in January.
