Regional ministers call for reopening of Goma Airport for humanitarian aid
The closure has severely disrupted the delivery of food, water, and medical aid for up to two million people.
Pressure is mounting on M23 rebels to reopen Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to allow urgent humanitarian aid to reach those affected by recent fighting.
The airport, located in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, was reportedly seized last week by the rebels.
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The closure has severely disrupted the delivery of food, water, and medical aid for up to two million people.
Following a joint ministerial meeting of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Tanzania on Saturday, ministers called for the immediate reopening of the airport and other key supply routes.
The meeting, co-chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Zimbabwe's Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Amon Murwira, also urged an immediate ceasefire.
Several hundred people have been killed in the conflict, while tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes.
"To facilitate the implementation of the immediate interventions, a joint meeting of EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces will be convened within five days," the statement from the meeting read in part.
Heads of State and Government during the joint EAC-SADC Summit at State House, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on February 8, 2025. (Photo: PCS)
The Chiefs of Defence Forces from all state and non-state parties within the two blocs will monitor the ceasefire and oversee security measures in the affected regions.
As part of the resolution, the leaders agreed on a securitization plan for Goma and surrounding areas, including the immediate repatriation of those killed.
Additionally, they called for the resumption of the Nairobi process and better coordination with the Luanda process to address the ongoing conflict.
The ministers also proposed the establishment of a joint EAC-SADC political and security technical team to oversee the implementation of the agreed decisions.
Political dialogue, they emphasised, will be key in resolving the root causes of the conflict.
An elaborate roadmap detailing implementation measures, including financing, is expected to be presented to the joint ministerial meeting within 30 days for approval.
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