A Southern African Development Community (Sadc) troika is to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday to assess matters after a failed coup attempt in that country.

Lesotho Foreign Minister and troika chairman Mohlabi Tsekoa announced the trip in Maseru yesterday. South Africa and Mozambique are the other members of the troika.

"The Inter-State Politics and Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC) of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC) has noted some instability in the DRC," Tsekoa said.

"While peace continues to prevail, of late, there has been unwelcome armed military activities, particularly in the eastern part of DRC, that can revive the cycle of violence."

On June 10, rebel forces attempted a military coup in the DRC's capital Kinshasa and also tried to take over the eastern town of Bukavu. The government army managed to contain the uprising.

DRC president Joseph Kabila reportedly blamed Rwanda for backing the insurgents.

Tsekoa said, "Sadc will not tolerate and allow unconstitutional change of a government in the region."

The mission would visit Kinshasa, Bukavu and Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

"We hope to meet with President Kabila and others he may want us to meet. We will also meet Bukavu governor and others."

Tsekoa said the visit to Rwanda was essential because that country was a neighbour of the DRC and there were suspicions that it assisted rebels.

"It is also believed that some of those rebel soldiers come from Rwanda. In Kigali, we have asked that country's foreign minister to arrange for us to meet the President of Rwanda," said Tsekoa.

He said a troika report on findings and recommendations in the DRC and Rwanda would be handed to Lesotho Prime Minister and OPDSC chairman Pakalitha Mosisili.

Mosisili would present the report to a SADC summit of heads of state and government to be held in Mauritius in August.

"We are optimistic that peace and stability would have been achieved in the DRC by then," said Tsekoa.

Lesotho's term as OPDSC chair would end in August and the summit would elect another member for the post.

Currently, Lesotho is deputised by South Africa while Mozambique formed part of the troika because of its status as the immediate past chair of the organ. – Sapa.