Nairobi, March 24, 2025: Leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a virtual summit held on Monday which was co-chaired by Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto who serves as Chairperson of the EAC, and Zimbabwean President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa the Chairperson of SADC, the heads of state deliberated on measures to restore peace and stability in the conflict-ridden region.
The high-level meeting, attended by several African leaders, built upon resolutions from previous engagements, including the first Joint EAC-SADC Summit in February 2025 and discussions held by the African Union and the United Nations Security Council.
Leaders in Attendance
Among the dignitaries present were DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan. Representing Somalia and Angola were Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and Minister of External Relations Ambassador Téte António, respectively.
Commitment to Action
The summit endorsed the recommendations of the Joint EAC-SADC Meeting of Ministers held in Harare on March 17, 2025, which proposed immediate, medium-term, and long-term strategies to restore sustainable peace. Leaders directed the swift implementation of a comprehensive roadmap to enhance security coordination among regional forces.
In a move reflecting inclusivity, the summit also appointed a panel of eminent facilitators, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, to spearhead mediation efforts.
Regional Cooperation for Lasting Peace
The leaders reaffirmed the necessity of collaborative efforts in addressing the crisis, emphasizing the importance of a united African response to conflicts. The summit concluded with a strong call for concerted regional and international support in ensuring stability in the DRC.
As the roadmap is put into action, all eyes will be on the next steps taken by the EAC and SADC to turn commitments into concrete peace-building measures in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
