Regional Leaders Commit to Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid, and Long-Term Security Solutions in Eastern DRC
The leaders called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, urging all state and non-state parties, including the M23 rebel group, to halt hostilities.
They emphasized the need for humanitarian assistance, including the repatriation of the deceased and the evacuation of the injured. The reopening of essential supply routes, such as the Goma-Sake-Bukavu corridor, and the resumption of operations at Goma Airport were also prioritized to ensure the delivery of food and other essential commodities.
The summit reaffirmed the importance of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes and directed that the two be merged into a single, unified framework known as the Luanda/Nairobi Process. This move aims to enhance coordination and complementarity in addressing the conflict in eastern DRC.
The leaders directed the development and implementation of modalities for the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from DRC territory, a move seen as crucial for restoring the country’s sovereignty.
A joint meeting of EAC and SADC Ministers is set to convene within 30 days to deliberate on a comprehensive roadmap for peace, including immediate, medium, and long-term measures. The meeting will also address financing modalities and establish a technical coordination mechanism to monitor the implementation of the summit’s decisions.
The leaders agreed to hold similar consultations at least once a year, or as needed, to review matters of common interest and ensure continued progress toward peace and security in the region.
The summit’s resolutions underscore the commitment of African leaders to finding African solutions to African problems. By merging the Luanda and Nairobi processes and calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces, the leaders have taken significant steps toward addressing the root causes of the conflict in eastern DRC.
In a historic move to address the escalating security crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened a Joint Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dar es Salaam on February 8, 2025.
The summit, co-chaired by Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, brought together leaders from across Africa to deliberate on the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC and to chart a path toward sustainable peace and development.
The Joint Summit, attended by high-profile leaders including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, reaffirmed the regions’ solidarity and unwavering commitment to supporting the DRC in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The leaders expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in eastern DRC, which has resulted in significant loss of life, a humanitarian crisis, and widespread suffering, particularly among women and children.
