EAC-SADC Summit: Leaders Push for Foreign Troop Exit, Ceasefire in DRC

Heads of State present at the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have called for the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Speaking during a joint summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday, February 8, to deliberate on the security situation of the DRC, the leaders said this move reaffirmed their solidarity and unwavering commitment to continue supporting Congo in its pursuit of safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Troops from South Africa, Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda have been deployed to the Congo for a development community mission. However, there are claims that Rwanda has its troops in the eastern DRC, something that Kigali has denied.

Their deployment followed approval by the Southern African Development Community in May 2023, in response to the deteriorating security situation in the eastern DRC. The South African National Defence Force was leading the mission.

Their mandate was to support the DRC government, a member of the 16-member SADC group, in restoring peace, security, and stability.

Further, the joint summit directed the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense Forces to meet within five days to provide direction on the immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and the provision of humanitarian assistance, including repatriation of the deceased and evacuation of those injured.

The forces will also develop a securitization plan for Goma and surrounding areas, reopening Goma airport, and main supply routes.

The leaders have also directed the resumption of direct negotiations with all state and non-state parties, including the M23, under the framework of the Nairobi and Luanda processes, which the Summit merged into one, named the Nairobi/Luanda process.

Attended by leaders across the East African region led by President William Ruto, chair of the EAC, President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the leaders maintained their joint interest in restoring security in Congo.

Felix Tshisekedi of Congo was also present at the summit.

The leaders decided that they will be holding similar consultation meetings between EAC and SADC once every year and when the need arises to review matters of common interest to the two regions.

Tension engulfed in the mineral-rich east of Congo over insecurity, fighters from the M23 rebel group captured almost all of Goma, a major city of more than a million people in the east of DR Congo.