Dar Es Salaam, Feb 9 (NationPress) Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and other African leaders reiterated their unwavering support for pursuing a sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

During the opening session of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state summit in the port city of Dar es Salaam on Saturday, Hassan emphasized that Tanzania will persist in its support for all initiatives undertaken by the EAC, SADC, and the global community to resolve the conflict in the DRC.

As per a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hassan asserted that dialogue remains the optimal route to attain enduring peace and security in the DRC.

She urged all parties to engage in peace discussions and mediation to identify potential solutions to the crisis in the DRC, calling on leaders of the involved nations to maintain unity throughout the pursuit of peace and security in eastern DRC, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

"This meeting allows us to showcase our preparedness and dedication to seeking peace and security for our brothers and neighbors in the DRC," Hassan stated at the summit, which she co-chaired alongside Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

"I hope that through our unity, we can fulfill this duty with the utmost integrity," she added.

Ruto echoed calls for the conflicting parties to promptly cease hostilities and make tangible efforts toward dialogue aimed at restoring stability.

"We unite in urging all factions to adhere to the ceasefire—specifically, for the March 23 Movement (M23) to stop further advances and for the DRC's armed forces to halt all retaliatory actions," he stated.

Ruto highlighted that an immediate ceasefire is essential to create the conditions necessary for constructive dialogue and the realization of a comprehensive peace agreement.

He reaffirmed the EAC's strong commitment to attaining lasting peace, development, and regional integration, emphasizing that the security of the DRC is vital not only for its stability but also for the prosperity and cohesion of the entire EAC and SADC regions. He urged all parties to prioritize dialogue, cooperation, and above all, the safeguarding of civilian lives.

Mnangagwa called for summit participants to uphold principles of transparency, truth, and determination during the peace negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern DRC, ensuring a lasting solution to the crisis.

He also advocated for a comprehensive strategy to tackle the enduring conflict in the DRC, noting its repercussions on both the nation's well-being and the stability of the entire EAC and SADC regions.

As hostilities escalate in eastern DRC, African nations are intensifying efforts to devise African-led solutions and prevent a wider regional crisis.

According to the United Nations, at least 2,900 individuals have lost their lives amid the M23 rebels' takeover of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern DRC. The rebel group claims to have controlled the city since January 26.

The African Union, the SADC, and the EAC are actively engaged in brokering a ceasefire, aiming to halt the bloodshed and avert further destabilization of the region.