President Hage Geingob, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, has joined the international community in calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He also urged armed groups, including M23, to disarm.

President Geingob's call for peace in the DRC follows an upsurge in armed conflict in the north of the central African country, where M23 rebels are accused of running amok and have taken control of two towns in Eastern Kivu Province.

Subsequent to the escalation of armed conflict, the DRC has expelled the ambassador of neighboring Rwanda, accusing the country of supporting the M23 rebels.

President Geingob confirmed that he has consulted with the two presidents, Felix Tshisekedi of DRC and Rwanda's Paul Kagame, about the worsening political and military situation in eastern DRC.

The President said in a written statement that he is pleased with the commitment of Tshisekedi and Kagame to the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes to find a lasting solution to the security challenges in the east of the country.

The Luanda and Nairobi peace processes are led by the Chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, President João Lourenço of Angola, which SADC supports, Geingob said.

He said SADC is committed to continuing to play a supportive and constructive role to strengthen the conditions for peace in the country.

SADC Organ Troika leaders, Geingob, President Cyril Ramaposa of South Africa and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia pledged at their meeting on 28th October in Lesotho to work with authorities in DRC and the UN Organisation Stabilising Mission to ensure the effectiveness of the Force Intervention Brigade.