Story by ZBC News Reporter
THE East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have emphasised that political and diplomatic engagement is the most sustainable solution to the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This came out during a SADC-EAC joint summit of Heads of State and Government held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania this Saturday.
The summit was convened in light of recent deteriorations in security conditions in Eastern DRC, marked by significant humanitarian crises, including loss of lives and the suffering of vulnerable populations.
African leaders, led by SADC chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa and EAC chairperson Kenyan President William Ruto, reiterated the urgent need for a collaborative response to restore peace.
“We do have a duty to comprehensively frankly tackle and address the various challenges that are impeding the realisation of peace.
“This Summit should leap us forward towards a concrete roadmap to help resolve the ongoing crisis. As the leaders entrusted to nurture and facilitate unity, peace and development in this epoch, we cannot let the peoples of our regions down; their hope is in us.
“Such joint initiatives, must see us scale-up bold and decisive actions to silence the guns on our continent, but most immediately, implement lasting solution to the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC,” said SADC chairperson, President Mnangagwa in his address.
The summit underscored a united call for a ceasefire, restoration of essential services, and the pursuit of dialogue through the Luanda/Nairobi process.
In a decisive move, the summit directed EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense Forces to convene and establish technical directives within five days.
Critical areas of focus will include measures for immediate ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, and the re-opening of vital supply routes and Goma Airport, which has been crucial for humanitarian efforts.
The summit also resolved to merge existing peace processes into a unified Luanda/Nairobi framework, enhancing the effectiveness of mediation efforts in engaging both state and non-state actors in dialogue.
It also called for the development of modalities for the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from the territory of the DRC, reaffirming the region’s solidarity in supporting the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As a commitment to continuous dialogue and cooperation, the Summit decided to hold similar consultations annually to assess and address matters of shared importance across the two regional blocs.
The joint summit urged the government of DRC to protect lives and property, as well as upholding long-lasting legal and moral principles of respecting peace missions in DRC, such as MONUSCO and others.
The outcomes of the summit are expected to be implemented through further meetings of ministers, reinforcing the commitment of all parties to a united approach in resolving the crisis in Eastern DRC.
