African leaders gathered in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam for a historic summit convened by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to address the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The main agenda: an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire to halt the violence and restore essential supply lines disrupted by the advancing March 23 Movement (M23).
The situation is dire as the M23 rebels move toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, after taking control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. The summit's final communique emphasized the need to reopen the road between Goma and Bukavu and restore operations at the Goma International Airport, which has been severely damaged during the hostilities.
Recognizing the gravity of the conflict, leaders at the summit directed the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense Forces to convene within five days to develop technical strategies for enforcing a swift and unconditional ceasefire. Additionally, they advocated for the resumption of direct negotiations with all parties involved, including the M23, under existing regional mediation frameworks.
The summit also proposed merging the Nairobi Peace Process with the Luanda Process to create a unified approach to peace negotiations. This move aims to overcome previous setbacks suffered by both initiatives and to include more regional representatives to facilitate the talks.
Leaders stressed that political and diplomatic engagement remains the most sustainable solution to the conflict. The history of the DRC conflict is rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with ongoing ethnic tensions playing a significant role. Accusations between the DRC and Rwanda have further complicated the peace efforts.
Key figures, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC's Felix Tshisekedi, attended the summit, underlining the international importance of stabilizing the region. Co-chaired by EAC Chairperson and Kenyan President William Ruto alongside SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the summit aimed to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a wider regional war.
Tragically, the conflict has already resulted in over 2,900 deaths and has displaced thousands of civilians fleeing toward Bukavu to escape ongoing clashes. The international community remains watchful, hopeful that the renewed calls for peace will lead to a lasting resolution.
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