A specialised committee meeting of defense experts of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region opened in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss the escalating security and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC.
 
 The host of the 13-member countries has called the situation in eastern Congo precarious.
 
Hosting Army Commander Geoffrey Zyeele said the situation needs urgent attention to protect women and children caught up in the fighting.
 
Addressing the meeting, Lieutenant General Zyeele called on defense experts to offer solidarity, compassion, and determination to act decisively on the matter.
 
 "Another critical task before us today is the reconsideration of the expanded joint verification mechanism and the terms of reference for the ceasefire oversight and monitoring mechanism signed in Doha. Let's ensure that the oversight remains credible, impartial, and effective."
 
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Executive Secretary Yasir Ibrahim Ali Mohamed says the activities of the AFC/M23 rebels continue to destabilise the Eastern Congo, particularly after the capture of Uvira, adjacent to the Burundi border.
 
He has since called on member states to come up with a decisive plan to mitigate the situation.