On Saturday, Feb. 8, the joint summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) took place in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Following a decline in the humanitarian situation in Goma of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), the summit asked the military leaders of both communities to convene and develop technical directives for establishing a ceasefire and an immediate, unconditional end to hostilities.
Over four days since the Dar-es-Salaam meeting, there has been no progress in implementing the joint meeting’s resolutions, and hostilities persist on multiple fronts. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Congolese government appealed to the SADC and EAC to convene an urgent meeting of defence chiefs from the member countries.
The DR Congo government noted in a statement that the unanimous decision of the heads of state and governments during the joint SADC-EAC meeting was to reaffirm the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
The government warned that any attempt to divert attention from the real causes of the conflict would be rejected, recalling that the actual crisis is above the threats to its sovereignty and security. Congo also insisted that the strict application of the summit decisions would determine a return to sustainable peace.
The joint summit was held following the decision of the extraordinary summit of the heads of state of SADC on Jan. 31, in Harare, Zimbabwe. The leaders had evaluated the precarious security situation in the face of rapid evolution in the eastern Congo; they called for an immediate joint summit of the SADC and EAC to find the best way to tackle the security situation in the country.
The National Episcopal Conference of Congo, also known as CENCO, and the Church of Christ of Congo are working together to bring peace and stability to the Democratic Republic of Congo. They’re determined to consult with various socio-political groups in the country as part of their “Social Pact for Peace and Living Together in the DR Congo and the Great Lakes” project.
This initiative aims to address the long-standing security issues in eastern DR Congo and promote a culture of peace and coexistence in the region. The project involves engaging with stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the crisis that has plagued the region for decades. By bringing together various socio-political forces, CENCO and the Church of Christ of Congo hope to create a platform for dialogue and cooperation that will ultimately lead to more peace and stability in the country.
A joint summit between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) called for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) amid worsening humanitarian conditions. Despite the summit’s resolutions, no progress has been observed, prompting the Congolese government to urge an urgent meeting among the defence chiefs. The DR Congo government emphasized that respect for its sovereignty is crucial and any diversion from resolving core conflict issues will be dismissed.
The security situation in DR Congo was previously discussed in a summit on Jan. 31, reflecting the urgency of addressing the evolving crisis. Meanwhile, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) alongside the Church of Christ of Congo, are engaging various socio-political groups to foster peace through their “Social Pact for Peace and Living Together” project. The initiative intends to establish dialogue and cooperation for sustainable peace in the region.