A joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) concluded in Dar es Salaam on Saturday with a resolution calling for immediate measures to end hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The meeting, hosted by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, brought together leaders from both blocs, including Rwandan Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, while Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi participated virtually.
The summit addressed the ongoing conflict that erupted after M23 rebels seized Goma last month, an action that has led to nearly 3,000 deaths in the North and South Kivu provinces and triggered mass displacement.
Leaders directed regional defense chiefs to convene within five days to provide technical guidance for enforcing an unconditional ceasefire and restoring key supply routes and Goma airport operations. The declaration emphasized the need for coordinated humanitarian efforts, such as repatriating victims and arranging medical evacuations.
The meeting also called for renewed direct negotiations with all parties, including the M23 rebels, under the Luanda-Nairobi framework. In its statement, the summit condemned recent attacks on diplomatic missions in Kinshasa and urged the Congolese government to ensure the protection of lives and property.
