SADC-EAC summit urges immediate ceasefire and negotiations in eastern DRC

Leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the ongoing violence fueled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
In a joint summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 8 February, leaders from both EAC and SADC regional blocs emphasized the urgency of halting hostilities and opening humanitarian corridors to aid the thousands affected by the conflict. The summit called for army chiefs from both DRC and Rwanda to meet within five days to provide technical direction on implementing the ceasefire and to coordinate humanitarian efforts, including the evacuation of the dead and injured. Regional leaders also urged the reopening of key supply routes and Goma airport, critical for humanitarian assistance. Kenyan president William Ruto, who chairs the EAC, emphasized that dialogue is crucial to resolving the conflict and urged all parties to engage in constructive negotiations. The summit also urged the withdrawal of foreign armed forces, including those from Rwanda.
The M23 rebels have made significant advances in the volatile region, capturing the strategic city of Goma and pushing into South Kivu. The ongoing clashes, which have left nearly 3,000 dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, have exacerbated the already volatile situation. Kigali has denied involvement despite credible reports from the United Nations that it was backing the M23 rebels. Meanwhile, the Congolese government, led by president Felix Tshisekedi, has vowed not to negotiate with the rebels, whom they accuse of seeking to exploit DRC’s mineral resources.