Rwanda, DRC leaders to attend regional mediation meeting in Tanzania
The upcoming summit will be the first of its kind, bringing together EAC and SADC to address the DRC crisis.
For the first time since hostilities escalated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi have agreed to attend a regional mediation meeting hosted by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who chairs the East African Community (EAC), made the announcement on Monday evening.
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Ruto confirmed that a joint summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the EAC will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Friday and Saturday, focusing on the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC.
The summit follows an agreement between SADC chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and EAC Chairperson William Ruto.
"President Samia Suluhu Hassan has graciously agreed to host the summit to deliberate on the situation in Eastern DRC," President Ruto said in a post on X.
He also confirmed that both presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame had confirmed they would attend the summit, which will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on Friday before the heads of state convene on Saturday.
Ruto also said he had engaged presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, all of whom confirmed their participation in the extraordinary summit.
Will Tshisekedi show up?
This would mark the first time Kagame and Tshisekedi engaged in direct talks since the resurgence of conflict between Kinshasa and M23 rebels, which culminated in the partial fall of Goma. However, Tshisekedi's attendance remains uncertain.
The Congolese leader has previously refused to share a table with Kagame and has been hesitant to engage directly with Ruto, whom Kinshasa perceives as leaning towards Rwanda. Tshisekedi has consistently snubbed EAC-led initiatives, favouring the SADC bloc for military and diplomatic intervention in the mineral-rich region.
Last week, while Kagame attended the EAC summit, Tshisekedi opted for the SADC meeting, reinforcing his reliance on the Southern African bloc rather than the EAC to resolve the crisis.
Tanzania: A strategic host
Tanzania, a member of both SADC and EAC, is a crucial player in the mediation process. It has already deployed troops to eastern DRC under the SADC mission (SAMIDRC) with a mandate to conduct offensive operations against the M23 rebels.
SADC, comprising 16 member states including Angola, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, has taken a hardline stance in backing Kinshasa militarily. In contrast, the EAC, which includes Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, and Somalia, has struggled to maintain unity on the issue, with divisions over engagement with the M23 rebels.
M23 declares ceasefire ahead of summit
In a significant development, M23 announced a ceasefire starting February 4, 2025, citing humanitarian concerns in the eastern DRC. The group condemned the Congolese army (FARDC) for what it described as the reckless use of military aircraft targeting civilians in areas under its control.
M23 clarified that it has no intention of capturing Bukavu or expanding its territorial hold and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians. It also called for the immediate withdrawal of SAMIDRC forces, arguing that their mission is no longer justified.
The timing of the ceasefire aligns with the upcoming summit, raising speculation over whether it signals a shift towards dialogue or a strategic manoeuvre to consolidate territorial gains.
The upcoming summit will be the first of its kind, bringing together the two blocs to address the crisis.
Whether it yields tangible results remains to be seen, but all eyes will be on who ultimately shows up — and what comes next.
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