In a renewed push for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), ministers from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are set to meet within the next 30 days. The meeting aims to deliberate on the findings of the recent joint meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) concerning ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the war-torn eastern DRC.
The decision follows a high-level summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday, where regional heads of state emphasized the need for continued dialogue and cooperation. The summit, co-chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, underscored the commitment of both regional blocs to fostering sustainable peace in the DRC.
According to a communiqué released after the summit, EAC and SADC leaders resolved to hold annual consultations to assess and refine their peace initiatives. These consultations, they noted, could also be convened on an ad hoc basis whenever pressing security concerns arise.
“The Joint Summit decided that similar consultations shall be convened at least once every year and as and when the need arises to review matters of common interest to the two regions,” the statement read.
In an effort to enhance coordination, the summit directed the establishment of a technical secretariat to oversee the implementation of resolutions from these high-level meetings. President Ruto stressed the importance of a strong and efficient secretariat to ensure systematic coordination, monitoring, and enforcement of peace efforts.
“A consolidated single EAC-SADC initiative on this matter should be supported by a strong secretariat that can provide the necessary oversight and enforcement,” Ruto emphasized.
The upcoming ministerial meeting will not only evaluate the CDFs’ report but will also chart out a roadmap for both short-term and long-term peace implementation strategies, including financing mechanisms. The leaders also instructed the ministers to address remaining challenges in achieving sustainable peace in eastern DRC and propose actionable recommendations for the next EAC-SADC joint summit.
A key directive from the summit was the development of a framework to facilitate the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from DRC territory. This move aligns with broader efforts to stabilize the region and ensure that only authorized forces contribute to peacekeeping operations.
With the clock ticking towards the 30-day deadline, the upcoming ministerial meeting is expected to set the stage for a more coordinated and effective regional intervention in DRC, reinforcing the commitment of EAC and SADC to restoring peace and security in the region.
