Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East Africa Community (EAC) are set to meet in Tanzania this week to deliberate on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Just after the Rwandan government welcomed the proposed joint summit between SADC and the EAC, to find a lasting solution to the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an emergency joint summit has now been confirmed for this week in Tanzania.
EAC Chairperson and President of Kenya, His Excellency William Ruto confirmed on his X account that the two blocs will jointly caucus on the conflict in the Eastern DRC, adding that ensuring peace and security are critical ingredients for trade and investment in our region.
This comes after separate emergency meetings held last week by SADC and EAC endorsed the need for a joint summit to deal with the DRC Crisis.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held in Mt Hampden on Friday, SADC Chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa underscored the need to harness all efforts to ensure peace and stability are restored in the DRC.
He said, “I am confident that the concrete decisions adopted today will further propel the ongoing joint efforts to find lasting solutions to restore peace and normalcy in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Undoubtedly, consolidating solidarity and attaining our common destiny remains a top priority for our region. These principles underpin the commitments we made today and are indeed the solid basis upon which the goals we have set for ourselves, will be actioned.
“The realisation of the SADC Vision 2050 and the Africa we all want under the AU Union Agenda 2063, are intricately dependent on an unshakeable foundation of political stability, peace and security. As masters of our destiny, we, therefore, remain relentless in our quest to create a SADC and an Africa that plays its part at the global stage, guided by the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the spirit of African Renaissance.”
African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat has also supported the call for a joint meeting saying recommendations by SADC and EAC echo the long-standing African Union call for a political solution through dialogue within the framework of the AU-led Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.
The instability in the DRC has seen millions being displaced and thousands killed in the conflict.
Last week, the M23 rebels captured Goma, an eastern DRC city of nearly two million people.
The M23 rebels claim to be fighting for minority rights, while the DRC government accuses the rebels of seeking to control the eastern region’s vast mineral wealth.
