Dar Es Salaam: Heads of State and Government from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and East Africa Community (EAC) have issued a clarion call for ‘political and diplomatic engagement’ by all parties, including M23 rebels, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Leaders from the two regional blocs, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, attended an urgent joint SADC-EAC Heads of State and Government Summit as tensions, and casualties, in the DRC conflict continue to escalate.
According to South African Government News Agency, a communiqu© was released following the conclusion of the Joint Summit held at Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania on Saturday. The communiqu© directed the resumption of direct negotiations and dialogue with all state and non-state parties, including the M23, under the framework of the Luanda/Nairobi process. The conflict has claimed the lives of 14 South African National Defence Force members in addition to soldiers from other SADC countries who were part of a peacekeeping mission in the DRC. Furthermore, the United Nations reports that the crisis has also killed 3,000 people and injured at least 2,800 others since January 26.
The Joint Summit expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Eastern DRC, which has resulted in the loss of lives, creating a humanitarian crisis, particularly affecting women and children. The Summit also expressed concern about the escalating crisis manifesting in attacks on Diplomatic Missions, Embassies, and Staff based in Kinshasa and urged the Government of DRC to protect lives and property. The Summit also expressed condolences for the loss of lives in the recent attacks and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The Joint Summit was preceded by meetings of foreign ministers and senior officials from both regional blocs. The Summit considered the report of the joint Meeting of Ministers of EAC and SADC on the security situation in Eastern DRC and emphasized that political and diplomatic engagement is the most sustainable solution to the conflict. The EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) have been directed to meet within five days to provide technical direction on an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, a securitization plan for Goma, and reopening Goma Airport.
The Joint Summit reaffirmed the critical role of both the Luanda and Nairobi processes and directed that they be merged into a Luanda/Nairobi Process. The Summit resolved to strengthen these processes, enhance complementarity, and mandated the co-chairs, in consultation with the African Union, to consider appointing additional facilitators from other African regions. A joint meeting of EAC and SADC ministers is expected to be held within 30 days to discuss the ceasefire, technical coordination, and a detailed roadmap for peace and security in Eastern DRC.
The Joint Summit directed the development and implementation of modalities for the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from DRC territory. The Summit reaffirmed its solidarity and commitment to supporting the DRC in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as achieving sustainable peace, security, and development.