African Leaders Demand Urgent Ceasefire in Congo

Dar Es Salaam, Feb 9 (NationPress) African leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and reiterated their unwavering support for a sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict.

A historic summit, jointly organized by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), two significant regional organizations, convened on Saturday in the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam to tackle the worsening crisis in eastern DRC, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

In a final statement, regional leaders demanded an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of supply routes in the DRC, as the March 23 Movement (M23) has been advancing toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, after asserting its administration in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and a crucial regional center.

Acknowledging the critical nature of the situation, the leaders present at the summit instructed the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces to convene within five days to formulate technical measures for enforcing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The leaders called for the reopening of transport routes to restore humanitarian supply lines, especially the road connecting Goma and Bukavu, which has been disrupted by the M23 rebellion's incursions, along with the Goma International Airport, which suffered severe damage during the conflicts.

The communique emphasized that political and diplomatic engagement is the most sustainable approach to resolving the conflict in eastern DRC, as regional leaders expressed their commitment to resuming direct negotiations with all state and non-state parties, including the M23, under existing regional mediation frameworks.

Kinshasa has dismissed any form of direct discussions with the M23 but has indicated a willingness to revive the Nairobi Peace Process, a peace initiative led by the EAC and facilitated by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In the communique, regional nations proposed merging the Nairobi Process with the Luanda Process, a parallel peace initiative initiated by the African Union and mediated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

Both peace initiatives have encountered challenges. The Nairobi Process has reached an impasse, according to Kenyatta's spokesperson Kanze Dena, who made the statement on Thursday, while a peace summit under the Luanda Process was abruptly canceled at the last minute in late December.

To bolster the merged “Luanda/Nairobi Process,” regional leaders suggested appointing additional facilitators, including representatives from other parts of Africa, as mentioned in the communique.

The summit was convened to avert the conflict from escalating into a regional war. “If it continues like this, war risks becoming widespread in the region,” warned Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye in early February.

The conflict involving the M23 and the Congolese government is deeply intertwined with the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and ongoing ethnic tensions, particularly between Tutsi and Hutu communities. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the M23, while Rwanda alleges that the DRC's military has allied with the Rwandan rebel group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which is implicated in the 1994 genocide.

Both Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi, participated in Saturday's meeting.

The communique reaffirmed the demand for the withdrawal of “uninvited foreign armed forces” from DRC territory, with leaders stressing the importance of respecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

While hostilities have subsided in Goma, UN humanitarian agencies reported on Friday that violence in South Kivu province is escalating, leading to mass displacement.

During the summit's opening session, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan reiterated Tanzania's commitment to supporting all efforts by the EAC, SADC, and the international community to resolve the DRC conflict.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, Hassan stated that dialogue is the most effective means of achieving lasting peace and security in the DRC. She urged all parties to engage in peace discussions and mediation to find viable solutions to the crisis and called on regional leaders to maintain unity in their quest for peace.

“This meeting provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate our readiness and commitment to seeking peace and security for our brothers and neighbors in the DRC,” Hassan stated.

The summit was co-chaired by EAC Chairperson and Kenyan President William Ruto and SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Ruto reiterated calls for all parties to immediately halt hostilities and take significant steps toward dialogue aimed at restoring stability.

“We stand together in calling on all parties to implement the ceasefire, specifically, for the March 23 Movement to halt further advances and for the armed forces of the DRC to cease all retaliatory measures,” he stated.

Ruto noted that an immediate ceasefire is crucial to creating the necessary conditions for constructive dialogue and the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement.

He reaffirmed the EAC's strong commitment to achieving sustainable peace, development, and regional integration, highlighting that the DRC's security is vital not only for the country's 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 protection of civilian lives.

Mnangagwa appealed to summit participants to uphold the principles of transparency, truth, and determination in the peace discussions to ensure a lasting resolution to the crisis in eastern DRC.

He also advocated for a comprehensive strategy to address the long-standing conflict in the DRC, emphasizing that its ramifications extend beyond the country's borders, affecting the stability of the entire EAC and SADC regions.

According to the United Nations, at least 2,900 individuals were killed during the M23 rebels' capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The rebel group claims to have controlled the city since January 26.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Friday that a bombing in South Kivu province injured three civilians and damaged power infrastructure in the town of Nyabibwe, located about 60 km north of Bukavu.

Ongoing clashes in South Kivu are triggering mass displacement and civilian casualties, with thousands fleeing active combat zones toward Bukavu, which remains under threat of an M23 assault.

UN humanitarian agencies and their partners are assessing conditions in and around Goma, where hundreds of thousands of people are still displaced.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that many medical facilities in North Kivu were destroyed in prior conflicts, while others are struggling to resume operations. Essential medical services for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, mental health, and other conditions have been severely impacted, with shortages of medicine and overwhelmed healthcare workers.

The threat of infectious diseases has also risen. Cholera, malaria, measles, meningitis, mpox, and tuberculosis are among the significant health concerns in the region. Nearly 600 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths were reported in North Kivu between January 1 and 27.

The water supply in Goma was disrupted but has been partially restored in some areas, forcing residents to rely on water from Lake Kivu, increasing the risk of cholera outbreaks.

The WHO has dispatched emergency medical supplies, hygiene and water treatment kits, and tents to increase hospital capacity by 1,000 beds. However, supplies are being quickly depleted, and additional resources are urgently needed.