M23 backs Dar es Salaam summit resolutions, calls for dialogue in DRC crisis
It dismissed claims that the city had been taken over by 150 armed groups, stating instead that “Goma and its surrounding areas have been liberated and secured by the M23.”
The M23 rebel group has endorsed the resolutions of the joint East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit held in Dar es Salaam on February 8, 2025, emphasising that dialogue is the only way to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement on Tuesday, the M23 said it had declared a unilateral ceasefire on February 4, 2025, to create an environment conducive to negotiations.
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“The M23 fully agrees that only dialogue and political solutions can resolve the multifaceted crisis in our country,” the group said.
The group expressed its readiness to participate in talks, saying it had already consulted with political and social actors to push for meaningful governance reforms.
However, M23 criticised remarks made by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on February 10, accusing the official of misrepresenting the security situation in Goma.
“The Minister attempted to mislead both local and international audiences regarding the situation in Goma,” the group said.
It dismissed claims that the city had been taken over by 150 armed groups, stating instead that “Goma and its surrounding areas have been liberated and secured by the M23.”
The group insisted that any discussions on implementing the Dar es Salaam summit’s resolutions concerning Goma must involve M23.
Airport reopening
It acknowledged that technical challenges such as unexploded ordnance and damage to the airport runway were preventing the reopening of Goma International Airport. Still, it noted that road and lake transport routes remained operational.
M23, therefore, urged the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIRC) forces to use these alternative routes for their withdrawal.
At the same time, M23 raised concerns over military activities by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and its Burundian allies, warning that continued troop reinforcements could reignite full-scale hostilities.
“We are reliably informed about FARDC and Burundian reinforcements planning to launch attacks on the populated liberated areas of Kalehe and Nyabibwe. Such attacks will provoke a decisive retaliation.”
The group accused the Kinshasa government of prolonging the conflict by insisting on a military solution and urged Burundi and SADC member states to facilitate peace efforts by ensuring the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of SAMIRC and Burundian National Defence Forces (BNDF) troops.
“We call upon these countries to honour and uphold the spirit of Dar es Salaam,” the group said.
Capture of Goma
The Dar es Salaam summit, hosted by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, brought together leaders from the six-member EAC and the 16-member SADC to address the escalating violence in eastern DRC. The meeting followed M23’s offensive last month, which led to the capture of Goma and the displacement of thousands, raising concerns over regional security and humanitarian access.
In a joint declaration, EAC and SADC leaders directed regional defence chiefs to provide “technical direction” within five days to enforce a ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid, and reopen Goma International Airport and key supply routes.
The summit strongly condemned recent attacks on diplomatic missions in Kinshasa and urged Congolese authorities to protect embassies and personnel.
The leaders also called for direct negotiations with all parties, including M23, under the Luanda-Nairobi framework.
They agreed to implement the “Concept of Operations” to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and facilitate Rwanda’s disengagement from eastern DRC, a move expected to ease tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali.
Kinshasa has long accused Rwanda of backing M23 and deploying troops in eastern DRC, claims Kigali has denied. During the summit, Congolese officials declined to engage with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, further highlighting the strained relations between the two nations.
Additionally, the summit resolved to hold a joint meeting of EAC and SADC ministers within 30 days to assess the progress made in implementing the directives given to regional defence chiefs.
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