EAC and SADC Leaders Order Uninvited Foreign Armies Out, Urge Direct Talks with M23 to Resolve DR Congo Conflict

Leaders at an unprecedented joint summit of Eastern and Southern African blocs aimed at defusing the crisis in Eastern DR Congo urged all parties to hold direct talks, including with M23 rebels whose advance has fanned fears of a wider war.

In late January, the M23 rebels captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo – the worst escalation of fighting in more than a decade that has left thousands dead. Despite announcing a unilateral ceasefire, they have continued to march south towards the city of Bukavu.

“My earlier proposal for this summit was that H.E. Tshisekedi should speak directly to those who are in conflict with him, as this impacts all of us. There is no other forum better suited to address this issue than this summit,” said President Museveni.

“We must resist the temptation to think that we can somehow shoot or bombard our way to a solution,” said Kenyan President William Ruto at the opening ceremony for the summit, which was attended by eight Heads of State, including Tanzania’s Samia Sulu and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame. DR Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo joined via video link.

During the summit, DR Congo’s Tshisekedi demanded that the Rwanda Defence Force exits Goma and every locality.

The first-ever summit of both Eastern and Southern African blocs reflects the continent’s deep concern over the crisis and the standoff between DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, which denies allegations it is fuelling the conflict with its own troops and weapons.

The joint summit ordered the withdrawal of “uninvited foreign armed forces from the territory of the DR Congo” and emphasised their commitment to safeguarding Congolese sovereignty and territorial integrity.

They also agreed to merge the two existing peace processes and to consider bringing in additional facilitators from other parts of the continent. They urged the two blocs’ defence chiefs to meet within five days to “provide technical direction on immediate and unconditional ceasefire”.

Over the past month, M23’s lightning advances have expanded its control over North Kivu province’s lucrative coltan, gold and tin ore mines, uprooting thousands in what was already one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises.

Aid groups have been helping to relieve overwhelmed hospitals as health workers race against time to bury the bodies of at least 2,000 people killed in the battle for Goma, amid concerns of disease spreading.