DR Congo President Tshisekedi attends EAC-SADC summit vitually
This comes just a day after Kinshasa sent its ambassador to Botswana and SADC to the foreign ministers' preparatory meeting.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has once again opted to attend virtually the high-stakes joint EAC-SADC summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed at de-escalating tensions with Rwanda and ending the conflict in eastern Congo.
The summit, which brings together regional leaders to discuss the conflict in eastern DR Congo, has seen the in-person participation of several key figures, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
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Instead, Kinshasa dispatched Prime Minister Judith Suminwa to the meeting, signalling diplomatic discontent, especially with the East African Community.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is also absent, though his Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, is attending, with reports suggesting Ramaphosa may be en route.
This comes just a day after Kinshasa sent its ambassador to Botswana and SADC to the foreign ministers' preparatory meeting—a move viewed as a diplomatic snub.
The meeting saw a dismal turnout, with only 12 of 24 member states attending and a notable absence of key SADC nations.
Tshisekedi's absence follows a series of similar actions, including skipping an EAC virtual summit chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto from Cairo.
Relations between Kinshasa and the EAC have soured over the past two years, with Kinshasa repeatedly accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, who recently captured Goma, North Kivu's capital.
Adding to the tension, Kinshasa claims Kenya is aligning with Rwanda, further straining trust.
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