President Hage Geingob held consultations with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, ahead of the African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The meeting was to discuss the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo within the broader context of the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, including the deployment of the Eastern African Force.

In a statement, the Presidency said that President Geingob reiterated the primacy of diplomacy over conflict and war in resolving the conflict in the eastern DRC.

The statement further emphasized that President Geingob informed Guterres that SADC and Namibia support the Luanda and Nairobi processes.

The Nairobi and Luanda processes were established in 2022 to restore peace in eastern DR Congo, where more than 100 local and foreign armed groups reportedly continue to carry out violent attacks.

The UN SG praised President Geingob's efforts in championing peace in the SADC region.

Guterres is in Addis Ababa to attend the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.