By Admore Mbonda
Regional leaders have voiced urgent concerns over the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where attacks by the M23 rebel group and the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) are intensifying.
These assaults, targeting DRC government forces, SAMIDRC peacekeepers, and civilians, have especially ravaged North Kivu.
The summit expressed condolences to the families of soldiers from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania, who were killed in recent clashes near Sake while serving under the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
The leaders also wished a swift recovery to those injured in the attacks, emphasizing the human toll of the ongoing conflict.
The summit underscored the worsening security and humanitarian crises caused by these assaults, urging the restoration of critical services, including water, electricity, and food supplies, to affected areas.
They condemned the M23’s actions as a direct violation of the ceasefire brokered through the Luanda Process in July 2024, warning that such hostilities threaten not only DRC’s peace but also regional stability in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace, recalling a 2023 decision to deploy peacekeeping forces to support DRC’s sovereignty. However, they acknowledged that these goals have yet to be fully achieved.
Support for diplomatic initiatives, including the Luanda Process led by Angolan President João Lourenço and the Nairobi Process led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, was reiterated.
The summit also called for the immediate deployment of defense ministers and chiefs of defense from Troop Contributing Countries to the DRC to ensure SAMIDRC troops’ safety and facilitate the repatriation of fallen and injured personnel.
In a bid to further address the crisis, the summit proposed an urgent joint meeting with the East African Community (EAC), following a January 2025 EAC summit, to strategize on improving security in the region.
The SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation was tasked with engaging all parties involved in the conflict to negotiate a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to reach affected communities.
The summit also stressed the importance of coordinated diplomatic efforts, supporting both the Luanda Process and MONUSCO’s efforts to restore peace in the region.
Leaders expressed strong solidarity with the DRC, reaffirming their commitment to its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and long-term peace. Madagascar was praised for its pledge of medical aid to the injured and displaced in Eastern DRC.
The summit concluded with the welcome of newly elected Mozambique President Daniel Chapo and acknowledgment of DRC President Félix Tshisekedi’s ongoing efforts to address security challenges.
SADC Chairperson Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership was noted as central to the summit’s discussions on fostering regional cooperation and stability.
As the security situation in Eastern DRC remains volatile, the summit’s commitments mark a renewed regional effort to tackle the violence and seek a path to lasting peace.
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