African Leaders Urge Direct Talks in Bid to End Congo Crisis
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!At an unprecedented joint summit of Eastern and Southern African blocs, leaders called for direct negotiations to resolve the escalating conflict in Eastern Congo, which has sparked fears of a broader war. The summit, attended by eight heads of state, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi, highlighted the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis, which was intensified by the M23 rebels’ capture of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in late January.
Despite declaring a unilateral ceasefire, M23 rebels have continued advancing towards the city of Bukavu, adding to the death toll in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. “We must resist the temptation to think that we can somehow shoot or bombard our way to a solution,” Kenyan President William Ruto stated at the summit’s opening, emphasizing the need for dialogue.
The summit marked the first-ever joint meeting of Eastern and Southern African blocs, underscoring the continent’s growing concern over the crisis. While Eastern African leaders, including Rwanda, have called for dialogue with the M23 rebels, Southern African nations have supported Congo’s stance against foreign interference and condemned the deaths of peacekeepers in the region. Rwanda continues to deny allegations of supporting the M23, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
The summit’s communique urged the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from Congolese territory and emphasized the importance of preserving Congo’s sovereignty. Leaders also agreed to merge peace processes and bring in additional facilitators, while urging defense chiefs to meet within five days to establish a ceasefire.
As M23 rebels have gained control over valuable mines in North Kivu, thousands have been displaced, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The International Criminal Court is monitoring the violence, with reports of sexual violence and war crimes emerging from the conflict zone.
Amid rising tensions, the United States warned of potential sanctions against officials from both Rwanda and Congo, adding pressure for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, which is deeply rooted in historical grievances and the competition for Congo’s mineral resources.
