✨ In a bold move to restore peace, African leaders gathered in Dar es Salaam this Saturday for a historic summit aimed at ending the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
🌍 The summit, jointly organized by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), brought together key regional players to address the chaos caused by the March 23 Movement (M23). With M23 advancing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, and establishing control in Goma, the situation has become dire.
📢 In their final communique, leaders called for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of crucial supply routes, especially the road connecting Goma and Bukavu, which M23 has cut off. They also emphasized the need to restore the Goma International Airport, heavily damaged during the conflict.
🛡️ Understanding the urgency, the summit directed the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense Forces to collaborate within five days to enforce an unconditional ceasefire. Political and diplomatic efforts were highlighted as the most sustainable solutions, with support for restarting direct negotiations involving all parties, including M23.
🔄 Although Kinshasa has so far rejected direct talks with M23, there's a hint towards reviving the Nairobi Peace Process. Regional leaders also proposed merging this with the Luanda Process, aiming to strengthen peace initiatives with broader African representation.
⚠️ Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye warned that without immediate action, the conflict could spiral into a regional war, affecting millions. The ongoing clashes have already resulted in over 2,900 deaths and have displaced thousands towards Bukavu.
🤝 The summit, co-chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, also called for the withdrawal of any uninvited foreign armed forces, emphasizing the DRC's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
🌟 As the region stands at a crossroads, the unified call for peace and restoration of humanitarian routes marks a hopeful step towards ending the long-standing turmoil in eastern DRC.
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African leaders call for immediate ceasefire in eastern DR Congo
cgtn.com
