SADC has declared that it would not tolerate any activities to destabilise the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or against the transitional government.

The organisation has warned anyone involved in the political disturbances in the DRC that it does not accept any unconstitutional change of government in the region and reserves the right to intervene in such an event.

This follows threats to the peace process after President Joseph Kabila faced two attempted military coups in March and June. There were also reports of mutiny within the national army in the provinces of North and South Kivu. Although the coup attempts were foiled, SADC has pledged to establish the real cause of disturbances and to support efforts to ensure that adopted peace agreements are implemented.

A SADC meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia in June, within the framework of the Protocol on Political and Security Co-operation and Mutual Defence Pact, recommended a factfinding mission to the DRC.

Citing " ... unwelcome armed military activities, particularly in the eastern part of the country, that can revive the cycle of violence and ruin the peace process," SADC decided to send the fact-finding mission made up of

Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa, derived from the members of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. Lesotho Foreign Minister, Mohlabi Tsekoa, who is chairing the mission, said that they hoped to meet president Joseph Kabila and the Governor of Bukavu, among others.

Tsekoa said they would also visit Rwanda where they hope to meet with that country's president. "... there is great suspicion that Rwanda assists rebel soldiers disturbing the peace process in the DRC. And it is believed that some of those rebel soldiers come from Rwanda," he noted.

The African Union Peace and Security Council also expressed grave concern over the situation in Bukavu and the DRC in general and urged the UN Security Council to increase the size of the peacekeeping mission.