Leaders from eastern and southern Africa have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels continue their offensive, threatening to overthrow the Congolese government.
The summit, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, also urged President Félix Tshisekedi to engage in direct negotiations with the rebels—a stance he has firmly rejected in the past.
Tshisekedi, who attended the meeting via videoconference, has repeatedly refused to negotiate with the Rwanda-backed M23, accusing them of exploiting Congo’s mineral wealth.
However, the summit’s final communique emphasized the need for dialogue with “all state and non-state parties,” including M23.
The unprecedented summit brought together leaders from both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), two regional blocs with differing approaches to the crisis.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame attended alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose deployment of South African troops in eastern Congo has heightened tensions with Rwanda.
Rwanda blames the presence of SADC forces for escalating the conflict in North Kivu, a mineral-rich province now largely controlled by M23. Kagame has argued that SADC troops are not neutral peacekeepers but active participants in the fight against the rebels.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that M23 is supported by around 4,000 Rwandan troops, according to UN experts.
In response, Congo has mobilized regional peacekeepers, UN forces, allied militias, and troops from Burundi to prevent the rebels from advancing toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who chairs the EAC, stressed that dialogue is crucial for lasting peace. “The lives of millions depend on our ability to navigate this complex and challenging situation with wisdom, clarity, and empathy,” he said.
“Dialogue is not a sign of weakness,” Ruto added. “We must encourage all parties to set aside their differences and engage in constructive negotiations.”
M23’s latest offensive mirrors its 2012 takeover of Goma, but this time, analysts fear the rebellion is gaining broader support by linking its struggle to demands for better governance.
Some rebel factions have even declared their intent to push all the way to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, located 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) west of Goma.
The rebels are also under pressure to withdraw from Goma. In addition to demanding an immediate ceasefire, summit leaders called for the reopening of Goma’s airport and the removal of “uninvited foreign armed groups” from Congolese territory.
Another regional bloc, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), met in Equatorial Guinea on Friday and echoed calls for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congo.
ECCAS leaders also urged the reopening of Goma’s airport to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to displaced civilians.
With thousands already dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, the window for a diplomatic resolution is rapidly closing. Whether Tshisekedi will heed calls for negotiations remains uncertain, but the urgency for peace has never been greater.
