Inclusive national dialogues needed

The parliamentarians’ action plan, received by IRIN on Wednesday, stated that they would seek to involve representatives of the Congolese people “who are unjustly suffering as a consequence of a war that they did not provoke”. The DRC, which has no functioning parliament, was represented at the Lusaka workshop by leaders of two Congolese civil society groups. The action plan also resolved to strengthen national dialogues in the region to address security concerns of affected states “through inclusive internal processes which aim to create more open and tolerant societies within the Great Lakes Region, while expanding opportunities for the exercise of political power”. Meanwhile, the meeting’s final declaration called on the international community to curb the supply and movement of arms to and within the region.