At an unprecedented summit of Eastern and Southern African regional blocs, leaders on Saturday emphasized the urgency of addressing the escalating crisis in eastern Congo, where the rapid advance of Rwanda-backed rebels has raised concerns about a broader conflict.
The M23 rebels, who seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in late January, have continued their southward march toward Bukavu despite declaring a unilateral ceasefire. This marks the worst escalation of fighting in over a decade, resulting in thousands of deaths.
“We must resist the temptation to think that we can somehow shoot or bombard our way to a solution,” said Kenyan President William Ruto during the opening ceremony.
He, along with others, urged for tangible outcomes from the talks in Dar es Salaam, attended by eight heads of state, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi participated via video link.
“History will judge us harshly if we remain still and watch the situation worsen, day by day,” said Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
This landmark summit, the first of its kind to include both Eastern and Southern African blocs, reflects the continent’s deep concern over the crisis and the ongoing standoff between Congo and neighboring Rwanda. Rwanda denies allegations that it is fueling the conflict by providing troops and weapons to the rebels.
The two regional groupings have been divided on the conflict, with the eastern bloc leaning toward Rwanda’s call for dialogue and the southern bloc supporting Congo, particularly in light of the deaths of peacekeepers.
This division creates challenges for the summit’s success, with some experts, such as Stephanie Wolters from the South African Institute of International Affairs, expressing limited optimism. Leaders must encourage Congo to reconsider its refusal to engage directly with the M23 while holding Rwanda accountable for its alleged support of the rebels.
M23’s rapid advances have expanded their control over North Kivu province, including its valuable coltan, gold, and tin ore mines, displacing thousands in an already dire humanitarian crisis. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and at least 2,000 people have died in the battle for Goma, raising fears of disease outbreaks.
The International Criminal Court is closely monitoring the violence, with reports of sexual violence, including rape and sexual slavery, emerging from the UN human rights office.
Ahead of the summit, the United States issued a warning, threatening potential sanctions against Rwandan and Congolese officials, further intensifying the pressure to resolve a conflict rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the battle for control of Congo’s mineral resources.
The well-equipped M23 is part of a long history of ethnic Tutsi-led rebel movements in Congo’s volatile east. While Congo’s government accuses Rwanda of backing the group, M23 denies these allegations.
Rwanda refutes claims that thousands of its troops are fighting alongside M23 but asserts that it is defending itself against Hutu-led militias, which it says are aligned with the Congolese military.
