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Mnangagwa to co-Chair joint SADC-EAC Summit on DRC conflict resolution
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa will lead a Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegation to Tanzania later this week for an Extraordinary Joint Summit with the East African Community (EAC). The high-level meeting aims to address the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and foster a peaceful resolution.
The summit follows the decision made at the recent Extraordinary SADC Summit held in Harare, which called for a coordinated approach with the EAC. The meeting will be co-chaired by President Mnangagwa and EAC Chairperson, Kenyan President William Ruto.
The DRC, a member of both SADC and the EAC, has accused Rwanda, a key EAC member, of supporting rebel groups such as M23, which have caused widespread death and displacement in the eastern regions of the DRC. The Extraordinary Joint Summit was prompted by escalating violence that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), Mr. George Charamba, emphasized President Mnangagwa's crucial role in the mediation process.
"The President has a very important foreign affairs fixture in the form of the situation in DRC. The joint summit of SADC and the EAC in Tanzania has taken the extraordinary step of inviting all parties in the DRC conflict to the table. President Mnangagwa is an essential interlocutor in this crisis, given his strong relationships with both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame," said Charamba.
The summit will bring together the SADC Double Troika, the EAC leadership, and troops-contributing countries to SAMIDRC, the SADC Mission in the DRC. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, will also play a key role in the proceedings.
Eastern DRC has been plagued by decades of violence, exacerbated by the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which has fueled rebel activity and regional tensions. Recent clashes between the DRC government forces and rebel groups, including M23, have resulted in over 900 civilian deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands.
Rebel forces have gained significant ground, recently capturing parts of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 16 soldiers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Malawi, both of which are part of the SAMIDRC forces deployed to restore peace and security in the region.
South Africa has issued a stern diplomatic warning, declaring that any further attacks on its troops would be considered a "declaration of war." Rwanda's President Kagame, however, accused South African forces of conducting "offensive combat operations" to support the Congolese government.
The upcoming summit provides a platform for direct engagement between DRC President Tshisekedi and President Kagame, with mediation from SADC and EAC leaders. Both blocs aim to de-escalate tensions and support ongoing initiatives, including the Luanda Process led by Angolan President João Lourenço, which seeks to broker peace between the two nations.
Last week's SADC Summit in Harare mandated its Organ Troika on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation to engage all state and non-state actors in the conflict. Leaders emphasized the importance of a ceasefire to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid.
The African Union's Peace and Security Council has also condemned the violence, urging adherence to the Luanda Process and coordination with other efforts such as MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
SADC leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the DRC's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and long-term stability. The joint summit in Tanzania is seen as a crucial step toward finding a lasting solution to the decades-long conflict that has destabilized the region.
As President Mnangagwa and his counterparts prepare for the summit, the international community will closely watch whether this coordinated effort between SADC and the EAC can pave the way for sustainable peace in eastern DRC.
The summit follows the decision made at the recent Extraordinary SADC Summit held in Harare, which called for a coordinated approach with the EAC. The meeting will be co-chaired by President Mnangagwa and EAC Chairperson, Kenyan President William Ruto.
The DRC, a member of both SADC and the EAC, has accused Rwanda, a key EAC member, of supporting rebel groups such as M23, which have caused widespread death and displacement in the eastern regions of the DRC. The Extraordinary Joint Summit was prompted by escalating violence that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), Mr. George Charamba, emphasized President Mnangagwa's crucial role in the mediation process.
"The President has a very important foreign affairs fixture in the form of the situation in DRC. The joint summit of SADC and the EAC in Tanzania has taken the extraordinary step of inviting all parties in the DRC conflict to the table. President Mnangagwa is an essential interlocutor in this crisis, given his strong relationships with both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame," said Charamba.
The summit will bring together the SADC Double Troika, the EAC leadership, and troops-contributing countries to SAMIDRC, the SADC Mission in the DRC. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, will also play a key role in the proceedings.
Eastern DRC has been plagued by decades of violence, exacerbated by the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which has fueled rebel activity and regional tensions. Recent clashes between the DRC government forces and rebel groups, including M23, have resulted in over 900 civilian deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands.
South Africa has issued a stern diplomatic warning, declaring that any further attacks on its troops would be considered a "declaration of war." Rwanda's President Kagame, however, accused South African forces of conducting "offensive combat operations" to support the Congolese government.
The upcoming summit provides a platform for direct engagement between DRC President Tshisekedi and President Kagame, with mediation from SADC and EAC leaders. Both blocs aim to de-escalate tensions and support ongoing initiatives, including the Luanda Process led by Angolan President João Lourenço, which seeks to broker peace between the two nations.
Last week's SADC Summit in Harare mandated its Organ Troika on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation to engage all state and non-state actors in the conflict. Leaders emphasized the importance of a ceasefire to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid.
The African Union's Peace and Security Council has also condemned the violence, urging adherence to the Luanda Process and coordination with other efforts such as MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
SADC leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the DRC's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and long-term stability. The joint summit in Tanzania is seen as a crucial step toward finding a lasting solution to the decades-long conflict that has destabilized the region.
As President Mnangagwa and his counterparts prepare for the summit, the international community will closely watch whether this coordinated effort between SADC and the EAC can pave the way for sustainable peace in eastern DRC.
Source - the herald
