President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this morning for an important summit bringing together Heads of State from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The summit will address the ongoing security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a crucial step toward resolving the region’s escalating conflict.
Ahead of the summit, a joint meeting of the SADC and EAC Council of Ministers was held on February 7, 2025, to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the DRC. The eastern region, in particular, has experienced significant instability and humanitarian crises in recent months.
The meeting was co-chaired by Honourable Professor Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Head of the EAC delegation. Both leaders stressed the importance of continued political and diplomatic efforts for peace.
Professor Murwira expressed concern over the worsening situation, noting that despite previous initiatives, such as the Luanda and Nairobi processes, security and humanitarian conditions in the region had deteriorated. “It is heartbreaking that around 400,000 people have been displaced in the city of Goma alone this year,” Murwira stated.
The SADC Executive Secretary, Mr. Elias M. Magosi, also commended the joint meeting as a vital step in fostering cooperation between SADC and EAC member states, which is key to finding a lasting solution to the DRC’s security challenges.
This summit follows the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 31, 2025, where leaders assessed the evolving situation in the DRC and called for a joint summit.
Today’s summit aims to explore collective strategies and approaches to address the DRC’s security concerns, offering diplomatic solutions and humanitarian assistance.
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