Declaration adopted by the Regional Summit on the Occasion of the Signing of the Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front

1. At the kind invitation of H.E Ali Hassan Mwinyi, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Their Excellencies Presidents, HABYARIMANA Juvenal of the Republic of Rwanda, Yoweri K. MUSEVENI of the Republic of Uganda and Melchior NDADAYE of the Republic of Burundi, met in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania on 4th August, 1993 on the occasion of the signing of the Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front. Also in attendance were the Honourable John S. MALECELA, Prime Minister and First Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honourable Faustin BIRINDWA, Prime Minister of the Republic of Zaire, Honourable Agathe UWINLINGIYIMANA, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, H.F. Dr. Salim Ahmed SALIM, Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity.

2. Recalling the various regional meetings held since the outbreak of hostilities between the forces of the Rwanda Government and those of the Rwandese Patriotic Front in October 1990 in particular, the Summits held in Mwanza (Tanzania) on 17th October 1990, in Gbadolite (Zaire) on 26 October, in Goma (Zaire) on 20th November 1990, in Zanzibar (Tanzania) on 17 February 1991 and in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) on 19 February 1991 as well as initiatives taken and the efforts made by the Heads of State of the region the Successive Chairmen of the Organisation of African Unity, and the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity to bring about immediate cessation of hostilities and to promote the peaceful resolution of the Rwanda conflict through a negotiated settlement;

3. Recalling with appreciation the earlier efforts of the Mediator, H.E. President Mobutu Sese Seko, President of the Republic of Zaire which led to the signing of the N'sele Ceasefire Agreement on 29 March 1991 between the Rwanda Government and the Rwandese Patriotic Front;

4. Underscoring with satisfaction and deep appreciation the role played and efforts deployed by H.E. President Ali Hassan MWINYI, in his capacity as Facilitator, culminating in the signing of the amended Ceasefire Agreement on 12 July 1992;

5. Considering the tremendous achievements made by the Rwandese Government and the Rwandese Patriotic Front in the political negotiations under the auspices of the Facilitator, within the framework of the Arusha Peace Process;

6. Noting with satisfaction, the conclusion and signing of the Protocols on the Rule of law, Power-sharing within the framework of a Broad-Based Transitional Government, the Repatriation of Rwandese Refugees and the Resettlement of Displaced Persons, the Integration of the Forces of the Rwanda Government and those of the Rwandese Patriotic Front into a new Rwandese National Army as well as on Miscellaneous issues and final provisions;

7. Convinced that the vital interests of the Rwandese people as well as the interests of strengthening peace and security in Rwanda and in the region in general, urgently dictated the necessity of achieving as soon as possible, a just and lasting settlement of the Rwanda Conflict, in particular, the Rwandese refugee question, through the conclusion of a comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Rwanda Government and the Rwandese Patriotic Front

8. Recalling the commitments made by the Heads of State and Representatives of the countries of the region, notably, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zaire during the various regional summits, in particular, at the Dar es Salaam Summit on Rwandese Refugees of 19 February 1991;

9. Considering the long standing traditional and historical ties amongst the countries and peoples of the region, factors that have contributed to the collective and sustained search for peace in Rwanda within an African context;

10. Recognizing that peace in the region contributes to International Peace and Security and, therefore noting further the support and role of the United Nations and the International Community as a whole to achieve and consolidate the gains of the Peace Process in Rwanda;

11. The Regional Summit Congratulates the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front, in particular, their respective leaders, H.E. Major General HABYARIMANA, Juvenal, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Colonel KANYARENGWE, Alexis Chairman of the Rwandese Patriotic Front, respectively, for their statesmanship and patriotism which have contributed to the conclusion of the various Protocols culminating in the resolution of the causes underlying the Rwandese Conflict and the signing on 4th August 1993 of a Peace Agreement;

12. The Regional Summit Calls upon the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front acting as one legal entity within the Broad-Based Transitional Government on the one hand and the Transitional National Assembly on the other, to vigorously pursue and to implement all the provisions of the various Protocols agreed to, as well as the Peace Agreement signed by the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front;

13. The Regional Summit Encourages the Rwandese people and the various political formations In Rwanda to pursue their commendable efforts aimed at achieving peace national unity and reconciliation as consolidating democracy in their country;

14. The Regional Summit Reaffirms the commitments made at the earlier Regional Summits, especially those contained in the Dar es Salaam Declaration on Rwandese Refugees and Undertakes to facilitate the local integration and or naturalisation of Rwandese Refugees who would opt to remain in their asylum countries, and further undertakes to facilitate the repatriation of those Rwandese Refugees who would opt to return to their country. In this connection, the Summit further commits itself to facilitate the transfer of properties and other benefits of the returnees to their country of origin.

15. The Regional Summit Calls on the OAU and the UNHCR to redouble their efforts with a view to finalising the Plan of Action for Rwandese Refugees as called for by the Dar es Salaam Summit of 19 February 1991 and, thereafter, following the approval of the said Plan of Action by the countries of the region and the Broad Based Transitional Government in Rwanda, to call for a donors Conference within the period specified in the Protocol on the Repatriation of Refugees and the Resettlement of Displaced Persons;

16. The Regional Summit Expresses its thanks and gratitude to the Western Observer countries, notably Belgium, France, Germany, and the United States of America, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations Organisation and the United Nations High Commissioner for their support for, and sustained interest in the Rwanda Peace Process and Appeals to the International donor Community to extend every and all possible assistance to the OAU and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by participating, at high level, in the planned Donor Conference and contributing generously towards the implementation of the programmes formulated in the said Plan of Action for Rwandese Refugees and Displaced Persons;

17. The Regional Summit further Appeals to Non Governmental Organisations to continue, with the support of the International Community, to provide for the needs of Rwandese Refugees and Displaced Persons until they are repatriated, resettled and rehabilitated in Rwandese Society;

18. The Regional Conference calls on the donor community in particular, and the international community as a whole to provide the necessary support and assistance to Rwanda in the demobilization and integration exercise involving the forces of the two parties. It also appeals to the international community to extend adequate assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the socio-economic infrastructure destroyed as a result of conflict;

19. The Regional Summit Recognises the dangers that the Rwanda Peace Process is exposed to if there should be delays in implementing the Peace Agreement and therefore, Requests the Secretary General of the United Nations to take immediate and appropriate steps towards the establishment of the Neutral International Force in Rwanda for purposes of implementing the Peace Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front. The African Group and the United Nations is, therefore, requested to follow up this matter with Secretary General of the United Nations and to report as soon as possible to the Secretary General of the OAU; In this connection, the Regional Summit Requests the Secretary General of Organisation of African Unity to adequately expand the Neutral Military Observer Group until the establishment of, and the smooth takeover by the NIF and, in this regard, Appeals to the donor countries, notably, Belgium, France, Germany and the United States of America to further extend the necessary financial and logistical support to the OAU, as already requested, to enable the NMOG fulfi1 its mandate The Rwanda;

21. The Regional Summit Expresses its sincere gratitude to H.E. Ali Hassan MWINYI President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in his capacity as Facilitator, for the selfless role and the sacrifices made by the Government and the entire people of the United Republic of Tanzania towards the achievement of peace in Rwanda;

22. The Regional Summit Expresses its gratitude to the Successive Chairmen of the OAU, since the beginning of the conflict for their continued support for the Rwandese Peace Process and Extends its thanks to the Secretary General of the OAU for the effort s deployed since the outbreak of hostilities in Rwanda in October 1990 which, no doubt, contributed to the achievement of Peace in Rwanda;

23. The Regional Summit further extends its thanks to H.E. President Ali Hassan MWINYI, the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania for the warm hospitality and reception accorded to the Heads of State and their delegations.

Done at Arusha, 4th August 1993