Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend a high-stakes regional summit in Dar es Salaam in the second week of February to address the escalating conflict in eastern DRC. The summit, bringing together leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), comes as the M23 rebel group has taken control of key areas, including parts of Goma, North Kivu’s capital.
The Congolese government has continued to fight alongside the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR)—a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide—along with foreign mercenaries and the Wazalendo, a coalition of local armed groups. These forces have been accused of targeting Tutsi communities in eastern Congo, intensifying ethnic violence in the region.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who chairs the EAC, confirmed the meeting, stating, “Peace and security are critical ingredients for trade and investment in our region. I am glad the leadership of the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community has agreed to jointly caucus on the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through our collective effort, we will ensure security reigns in our continent.”
Other confirmed attendees include President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia.
The summit follows a recent SADC meeting, where leaders agreed to coordinate their efforts with the EAC. This move highlights a growing consensus that regional collaboration is essential in containing the crisis.
With armed clashes intensifying and reports of mass displacement, expectations are high for the summit to produce tangible commitments. The involvement of both SADC and the EAC suggests a serious push to de-escalate tensions and seek a long-term solution to one of Africa’s most volatile conflicts.
