East Africa leaders, SADC seek lasting solution to DR Congo crisis

The East African Community (EAC) Heads of State and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are seeking a lasting solution to the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

To this end, the EAC rulers met on Wednesday to discuss the situation, according to a statement released by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, on Thursday.

“Last night, we held an Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, chaired by the President of Kenya, Samuel Ruto, to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” Museveni wrote on X.

“We agreed that DRC President Felix Tshisekedi should engage in dialogue with his armed opponents. Additionally, the EAC should convene an urgent summit with SADC to seek a lasting solution to this situation.”

Tshisekedi has, meanwhile, promised to restore government authority in the east, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of the city of Goma and are reportedly moving south to take more territory.

The DR Congo president made the vow in a televised address to the nation, saying that a “vigorous and coordinated response” against what he called “terrorists” was underway.

Tshisekedi, in his address, also hit out at the international community for “inaction” and for not doing enough in the wake of the escalating security crisis in the East African country.

“Be sure of one thing: the Democratic Republic of Congo will not let itself be humiliated or crushed. We will fight and we will triumph,” he said on Wednesday night.

According to the United Nations (UN), the crisis has forced about 500,000 people from their homes, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation in the DR Congo.