President William Ruto on Monday March 24, 2025 in the evening co-chaired a virtual Joint Summit of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government, focusing on resolving the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Co-chaired by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the summit followed up on the February 8, 2025, joint meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. During this meeting, they decided to merge two existing peace efforts: The goal was to create a unified approach to resolving the conflict in the eastern DRC.
To lead this combined peace initiative, the summit appointed former leaders as facilitators. These include Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ethiopia’s former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Their role is to guide the peace talks and ensure that all parties involved work towards a lasting solution.
The joint efforts of EAC and SADC show a strong commitment to solving the conflict in the eastern DRC. By working together and combining their resources, these regional organizations aim to bring lasting peace to the area and improve the lives of its people.
The meeting brought together several heads of state and government officials from member countries of both regional blocs. Notable attendees included President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania. President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC was represented by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa.
During the summit, leaders discussed the complex and prolonged conflict in the eastern DRC, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. President Ruto highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of the crisis while upholding the DRC’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He stated, “The ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo can only be resolved through dialogue and not military action.”
The summit resulted in several key resolutions aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region:Immediate Ceasefire: An urgent call for all parties involved, including the M23 rebel group and other armed factions, to cease hostilities unconditionally.
Humanitarian Aid: Commitment to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations and reopen critical supply routes.
The leaders agreed to hold annual meetings to review progress and ensure continued collaboration between the EAC and SADC in addressing the DRC conflict. This unified approach underscores the regional commitment to achieving lasting peace and stability in the eastern DRC.
