East, Southern Africa leaders call for 'immediate ceasefire' in DR Congo

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A summit of African leaders held in Tanzania to address the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" within five days.

The summit in Dar-es-Salaam brought together Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi as well as leaders from both the East African Community (EAC) and 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The joint East East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit has called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in eastern DR Congo. (Courtesy photo)

The Heads of State after a closed-door session issued a joint communique which among other resolutions mandated the Chiefs of Defence Forces from EAC and SADC to convene within five days.

Their focus will be to establish an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian assistance, and devise a plan for Goma and surrounding areas. Additionally, they will address the reopening of key supply routes, Goma Airport, and recommend further necessary interventions to stabilise the region.

The M23 armed group has rapidly seized swathes of territory in the mineral-rich eastern DRC in an offensive that has left thousands dead and displaced vast numbers.

In the final statement, the summit called for army chiefs from both communities "to meet within five days and provide technical direction on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire".

The joint East East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit has called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in eastern DR Congo. (Courtesy photo)

It also called for an opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate the dead and injured.

Meanwhile, fighting was ongoing around 60 kilometres (35 miles) from the South Kivu provincial capital of Bakuvu, local and security sources told AFP.

The M23 took the strategic city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week and is pushing into neighbouring South Kivu in the latest episode of decades-long turmoil in the region.

President Yoweri Museveni joined the other regional leaders for the joint summit aimed at finding solutions for the peace and stability of the Eastern DRC.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Chairman of the EAC and President of the Republic of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, the Chairman of SADC and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the host Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of Tanzania.

Other leaders: Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Felix Tshisekedi joined via video call.

Evariste Ndayishimiye, of Burundi, was represented by Lt Gen.Gervais Ndirakobuca, the Prime Minister. Several ministers headed the delegations from Angola, Malawi and Madagascar. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, attended the opening session.

Ruto, who chaired the summit, reiterated calls to the parties in the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and take positive actions to allow meaningful dialogue aimed at restoring stability.

The joint East East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit has called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in eastern DR Congo. (Courtesy photo)

“We stand together to call on all parties to actualise the ceasefire; and specifically, on the M23 to halt further advancements, and the armed forces of the DRC to cease all retaliatory measures. An immediate ceasefire is the only way by which we can create the necessary conditions for constructive dialogue and the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement,” he said.  

SADC Chairperson Mnangagwa, urged the delegates to develop a comprehensive strategy to resolve the long-standing conflict in the DRC, noting that its impact has not only affected the well-being of the DRC but also the entire EAC and SADC.