Leaders from eastern and southern Africa have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo, where rebels are threatening to overthrow the Congolese government. The leaders urged Congo's president to engage in direct negotiations with the rebels. The rebels, known as M23 and backed by Rwanda, recently seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, resulting in significant casualties and displacements.
The joint summit included leaders from the East African Community bloc and the Southern African Development Community. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the summit, with tensions arising due to the deployment of South African troops in eastern Congo to combat the rebels.
The conflict in eastern Congo has escalated, with the rebels gaining control of North Kivu province. The rebels are supported by Rwandan troops, while Congolese government forces receive backing from regional peacekeepers, U.N. forces, and allied militias.
The M23 rebellion is rooted in Rwanda's concerns about rebels opposing its government operating in eastern Congo. The rebels have linked their fight to broader demands for improved governance and have expressed intentions to advance towards the capital, Kinshasa.
The Congo River Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups including M23, has called the Congolese regime a danger to the people and expressed openness to direct dialogue with the government. However, there are also calls for the rebels to withdraw from Goma and for the removal of uninvited foreign armed groups from Congolese territory.
Regional blocs have emphasized the need for dialogue, ceasefire, and withdrawal of foreign troops to facilitate humanitarian aid access. The situation remains complex and challenging, with millions of lives at stake, requiring wisdom and empathy in navigating towards a peaceful resolution.
