Leaders from eastern and southern Africa convened on Saturday to address the escalating conflict in eastern Congo, calling for an immediate ceasefire while urging Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to engage in direct negotiations with the M23 rebels.
The high-stakes summit, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, brought together members of both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in a rare joint effort to find a path to peace.
President Tshisekedi, who participated via videoconference, has consistently refused to negotiate with the M23 rebels, whom he accuses of being backed by Rwanda and exploiting Congo’s vast mineral wealth. However, a communiqué issued at the end of the summit emphasized the importance of dialogue with all state and non-state actors, including M23, as a means to end the bloodshed that has already claimed nearly 3,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, according to the United Nations.
The M23 rebels recently seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, in an offensive reminiscent of their 2012 takeover of the city. The current situation has further destabilized the region, with Congolese forces and their allies now focused on preventing the rebels from advancing to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. The summit also called for the immediate reopening of Goma’s airport, a critical step in ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
The presence of Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the summit underscored the complexity of the crisis. Kagame has long accused Congo’s military of harboring rebels opposed to his government in the largely ungoverned areas of eastern Congo. He also claims that Congolese Tutsis face discrimination, an issue that has fueled tensions between the two nations for years.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, another key figure at the summit, has angered Rwanda by deploying South African troops under the SADC mandate to combat M23 rebels. Kagame argues that these troops are not peacekeepers but direct participants in the conflict, fighting alongside Congolese forces. Rwanda has blamed the deployment of SADC forces for escalating violence in North Kivu, the mineral-rich province now largely controlled by M23.
The M23 rebellion is not only a military crisis but also a political one. The rebels, supported by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops according to U.N. reports, have linked their fight to broader grievances about governance in Congo. They claim they are battling a regime that has failed to uphold democratic norms and is becoming an increasing threat to the Congolese people.
In an open letter to the summit, the Congo River Alliance—a coalition of rebel groups including M23—stated that their movement is a national struggle that includes people from all ethnic backgrounds, including Congolese citizens who speak Kinyarwanda. The letter, signed by Corneille Nangaa, a leader of the rebel alliance, also reiterated their willingness to engage in direct talks with the Congolese government.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who currently chairs the East African Community, stressed the importance of dialogue, emphasizing that peace efforts should not be seen as a sign of weakness. “The lives of millions depend on our ability to navigate this complex and challenging situation with wisdom, clarity of mind, and empathy,” Ruto stated. He urged all parties to set aside their differences and embrace constructive dialogue.
Despite the push for talks, the rebels face growing pressure to withdraw from Goma. The summit in Dar es Salaam called for clear steps to remove uninvited foreign armed groups from Congolese territory, a move that aligns with demands made by another regional bloc, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), during a meeting in Equatorial Guinea the previous day. ECCAS leaders also demanded the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congo and the reopening of Goma’s airport to facilitate humanitarian aid.
Some analysts fear that this latest M23 offensive is even more dangerous than their previous uprisings, as the rebels now appear more determined to push beyond eastern Congo. Their rhetoric has shifted toward a broader call for regime change, vowing to take their fight all the way to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from Goma.
The situation on the ground remains volatile, with Congolese government forces receiving support from a patchwork of allies, including regional peacekeepers, U.N. troops, allied militias, and soldiers from neighboring Burundi. The M23 rebels, meanwhile, continue to strengthen their positions, making any resolution increasingly difficult.
The stakes are high, not just for Congo but for the entire region. The conflict has the potential to drag in more countries, intensifying an already fragile security situation. With economic and humanitarian crises mounting, leaders are under growing pressure to prevent further escalation.
As the summit concluded, it was clear that while the call for dialogue had been made, significant challenges remain. The Congolese government remains deeply resistant to direct negotiations with M23, and the rebels, emboldened by their recent gains, may see little incentive to lay down their arms without concrete concessions.
For the people of eastern Congo, who have endured decades of conflict, the hope for peace remains fragile. The current escalation has left families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and entire communities caught in the crossfire of geopolitical struggles. The world watches as regional leaders attempt to broker a lasting solution, but for those on the ground, the immediate priority is survival.
With both military and diplomatic efforts underway, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the region moves toward peace or deeper into conflict. The call for a ceasefire has been made, but whether it will be honored remains uncertain. The fate of millions hangs in the balance, and the decisions made now will shape the future of eastern Congo for years to come.
