Story by Vivian Bangamu
THE Rwandan government has welcomed the proposed joint summit between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), to find a lasting solution to the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This comes after separate emergency meetings held by SADC and EAC endorsed the need for a joint summit to deal with the DRC Crisis.
In its communique, the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held in Harare last Friday, called for an immediate joint summit of SADC and EAC to deliberate on the way forward regarding the security situation in the DRC as proposed by the 24th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of the EAC held on the 29th of January 2025.
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.
“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 DRC. 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 own 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,” he said.
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.
Reports say around 700 people were killed in the city and close to 3000 wounded as the rebels clashed with the DRC army and its allies.
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.
Progressive forces contend the proposed joint summit of SADC and East African community EAC will go a long way in bringing together the warring parties towards a last solution to the DRC conflict.
