President William Ruto has urged all parties involved in the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to cease hostilities and embrace dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace.
Speaking at the Joint EAC-SADC Summit at State House, Dar es Salaam, on Saturday, President Ruto emphasized that the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) must stand united in advocating for a peaceful resolution.
“Today, we join together to reiterate our calls to the parties to this tragic conflict to immediately cease hostilities and take positive actions to allow meaningful dialogue aimed at the restoration of stability,” he said.
A Complex Conflict Requiring a Diplomatic Approach
President Ruto, who also serves as the EAC Chairperson, highlighted that the conflict in Eastern DRC is deeply rooted in historical, economic, and political factors that span decades and cross regional and international borders.
“There is also a clandestine international dimension at work whose persistent, cynical, and destructive effects must neither be underestimated nor ignored any longer,” he added.
As such, he stressed that military solutions alone cannot resolve the crisis and urged the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, who recently seized Goma, to halt further advances. He also implored the DRC armed forces to avoid retaliatory attacks.
“An immediate ceasefire is the only way to create the necessary conditions for constructive dialogue and implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement,” he stated.
Leaders Unite for Regional Stability
The summit, attended by regional heads of state including Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), sought to formulate a joint EAC-SADC peace strategy.
President Ruto emphasized that the security of DRC is vital to the stability, prosperity, and cohesion of the entire region, calling for a unified peace initiative backed by a strong secretariat for coordination and enforcement.
Additionally, he urged the international community to align their efforts with the EAC-SADC peace initiative in solidarity with the people of DRC.
“We must resist the temptation of thinking that we can somehow shoot or bombard our way into a solution in the face of the complexity involved,” he remarked.
A Call for Historic Action
President Ruto challenged regional leaders to build upon the progress of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, merging efforts into a coherent and unified initiative to resolve the crisis.
“We have a historic opportunity as the broader neighborhood of the DRC to mobilize our collective will into a fused, single, and coherent initiative towards the resolution of this complex crisis,” he stated.
Zimbabwean President and SADC Chairperson, Emmerson Mnangagwa, echoed Ruto’s sentiments, stressing that unity and dialogue were essential to ending the bloodshed and restoring stability.
“Unity and prosperity of the people of our continent should be our focus. We must remain united as we were in the fight against colonialism,” President Mnangagwa stated.
He urged EAC and SADC to approach the conflict with openness, honesty, and flexibility, adding that dialogue among all parties is critical to achieving a lasting solution.
The Path Forward
As the summit concluded, regional leaders reaffirmed their commitment to finding a sustainable and peaceful resolution. The focus now shifts to how effectively the joint EAC-SADC initiative will be implemented and whether all stakeholders, including armed groups and international players, will commit to dialogue over continued fighting.
The world now watches as Africa takes charge of its destiny, seeking to turn the Eastern DRC crisis from an enduring conflict into a lasting peace.
