Regional leaders in Addis Ababa hold talks on DRC’s conflict

Regional leaders convened at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Friday, February 16, and addressed the ongoing insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The mini-summit, hosted by President João Lourenço of Angola on the sidelines of the 37th AU Summit, brought together regional leaders including President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President William Ruto of Kenya, Amb Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This mini-summit discussed, among other things, the return to a constructive and reconciliatory dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda, the immediate cessation of hostilities, the immediate withdrawal of the M23 from occupied areas, and the launch of the process of cantonment for this movement.

However, the deployment of South African troops to eastern DR Congo has sparked concerns, particularly from Kigali, urging the United Nations to reconsider its support for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force.

Kigali's concerns centre around the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), being part of a government-led coalition fighting the M23 rebels. SAMIDRC was officially deployed to take over from the EAC's mission in eastern DRC. It includes troops from Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa

President João Lourenço, leading the AU-backed Luanda Process, is spearheading an initiative to address the conflict in eastern DR Congo and normalise diplomatic relations between Rwanda and DR Congo. However, the diplomatic landscape is complicated by allegations of Rwanda supporting M23 rebels and accusations of collaboration between DR Congo's armed forces and the UN-sanctioned militia FDLR.

Tensions reached new heights when Congolese warplanes violated Rwanda's airspace multiple times between November 2022 and January 2023, provoking strong reactions from the Rwandan government.

President Tshisekedi's 2023 campaign pledge to declare war on Rwanda further escalated the volatile situation. Despite persistent calls from Rwanda for the Congolese government to end collaboration with the FDLR, reports suggest that the militia has been integrated into the Congolese army, adding complexity to the regional conflict.

South African opposition leader Julius Malema criticised the deployment of his country's armed forces in eastern DR Congo, labelling it a "reckless decision" and urging their return.

The Democratic Alliance echoed these concerns earlier in January. The volatile situation in eastern DR Congo, marred by over 130 armed groups accused of atrocities and human rights violations for nearly 30 years, remains a challenging issue despite multiple regional and international interventions.

In a closed-door mini-summit addressing the escalating security crisis in the east of the DRC, President Tshisekedi openly accused Rwanda of fueling insecurity and plundering wealth in the region. "Rwanda's participation in the insecurity and looting of wealth in eastern Congo cannot be ignored."It is essential to address these issues to restore peace and stability in the region," he stated. Rwanda denied these allegations.

President Lourenço, appointed as the mediator for the dialogue between Rwanda and the DRC, emphasised the urgent need for a ceasefire. "The situation is deteriorating, and there is a risk of conflagration in the EAC and SADC sub-regions. This summit aims to obtain a ceasefire and facilitate a direct dialogue between the heads of state of Rwanda and the DRC," President Lourenco stressed.

The mini-summit, which aims to restore dialogue, end hostilities, withdraw the M23, initiate cantonment, and implement the PDDRC-S, reflects the dire need for immediate action to bring peace to the troubled region. As the 37th AU Summit opens in Addis Ababa, the DRC's admission to the Peace and Security Council after 22 years marks a significant step towards regional cooperation.