Dar es Salaam. The Dar es Salaam summit that has brought together leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states is part of broader efforts to broker an immediate ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ceasefire, the leaders said, is important to avert the worsening of the humanitarian situation that has been occasioned by the escalation of armed violence in the North Kivu province between the M23 armed group and the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies.
President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, opened the high-level summit on Saturday, February 8, calling for collective responsibility from all parties involved in the conflict.
“In line with the principle of African solutions for African problems our countries have a collective responsibility to ensure we urgently address the existing insecurity challenges that have impacted on the lives of innocent civilians,” President Samia said.
She added that Tanzania would continue backing efforts for lasting solution to the DRC conflict.
EAC Chairperson, President William Ruto, said all parties to the tragic conflict should immediately cease hostilities and take positive action to allow dialogue aimed at restoration of stability.
“We stand together to call on all parties to actualise the ceasefire and specifically on the M23 to hold further advancement and the armed forces of the DRC to cease all retaliatory measures,” Mr Ruto said.
He also called for all parties involved to respect territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations and principle of good neighbourliness.
SADC Chairperson, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa, said ongoing instability in eastern DRC has far reaching consequences not only for the Congolese but in the region as a whole.
“The unity, solidary and unbreakable bond of the people of this continent must withstand the test of this conflict we face. We must remain as solidly united as we were during the struggle against colonialism,” Mr Mnangagwa said.
Other leaders attending the summit included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, Somalian President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and DRC President, Félix Tshisekedi.
The conflict in eastern DRC has intensified significantly in recent months, with renewed clashes between government forces and the M23 armed group, as well as other armed factions.
M23 took Goma (the capital city of North Kivu province) late last month (January) and have been advancing southward towards Bukavu in the South Kive Province.
The offences, which also led to the death of troops from South Africa and Tanzania resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing over 100,000 people in just a few days and adding to the 2.7 million already displaced in North Kivu by the end of 2024.
