LUSAKA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and Tanzania on Friday called on the warring parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to agree to a ceasefire and halt hostilities.
In a communique issued at the end of a joint permanent commission meeting held in Zambia, the two nations expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the eastern part of the DRC and reaffirmed the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) call for a ceasefire and the adoption of dialogue.
The commission echoes the call for a ceasefire by the warring parties and urges dialogue among all stakeholders to find an amicable solution to the ongoing conflict, the communique said.
The two countries also commended SADC and the East African Community for convening the first-ever joint heads of state and government meeting earlier this month, aimed at restoring peace and stability and finding a lasting solution in the DRC.
According to the communique, the fifth Joint Permanent Commission meeting also reviewed security matters of mutual interest, particularly transnational organized crimes such as smuggling, illegal migration, terrorism, human and drug trafficking, and cybersecurity. ■
