The leaders of East and Central African countries called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties and the withdrawal of all armed groups, including foreign groups, from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been witnessing conflict between government forces and rebel groups for the past 20 years. Congo considers some of its neighboring countries responsible for supporting these rebel groups.
 
According to the United Nations report, rebel armed groups killed more than 1,200 civilians in North Kivu and Ituri provinces last year. These repeated killings have led to the displacement of families and even entire villages.
 
According to Iran Press news agency, the heads of the countries of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda gathered on Saturday in a meeting in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, to end the conflicts in Congo.
 
The heads of these countries asked their army commanders to meet within a week to determine a timetable for the withdrawal of armed forces from eastern Congo and emphasized the need to strengthen dialogue between all parties.
 
Earlier, the President of Burundi, "Owariste Daishimiye", said that the purpose of this meeting is to reach decisions that will improve the security situation and facilitate the achievement of peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.