Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Thursday urged swift action to address the worsening conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as they convened for an emergency virtual summit to assess the crisis and the deployment of regional peacekeeping forces.
“It is crucial that, going forward, we instill a greater sense of urgency in our respective work plans. The emphasis must be on collaborative strategies to enhance peace and security in the DRC,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who currently chairs the 16-member regional bloc, said in his opening remarks.
The conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC has intensified in recent months, with renewed clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda, according to the United Nations and several Western governments.
Mnangagwa warned that the repercussions of the instability extend beyond the DRC, affecting the entire region.
The high-level summit brought together key regional figures, including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and leaders from Mozambique, Botswana, and Namibia.
“An inclusive and comprehensive dialogue process is essential to strengthen security mechanisms that safeguard the human rights and dignity of affected communities,” Mnangagwa said.
The summit followed an announcement from Angola—a SADC member and a key mediator in the conflict—that the DRC government and the M23 rebels had agreed to begin direct peace talks in Luanda on March 18.
In addition to diplomatic efforts, SADC leaders are reviewing the mandate of their regional peacekeeping force in eastern Congo, known as the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
The mission faced scrutiny after 14 South African soldiers were killed in late January, sparking public criticism and calls for troop withdrawal. Ramaphosa defended the deployment last month, calling it “proof” of South Africa’s “continued commitment” to resolving the conflict.
“I urge everyone to engage in constructive dialogue as we formulate practical plans that reflect our commitment to peace,” Mnangagwa said before the meeting moved behind closed doors.
The situation in eastern Congo remains dire. The M23 rebels, composed largely of Tutsis who fled Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, control key areas in North and South Kivu—provinces rich in gold and coltan, a mineral critical for the global tech industry.
Since the resurgence of the M23 insurgency in late 2021, the group has made significant territorial gains, raising fears of a broader regional war.
The violence has taken a devastating toll: More than 8,500 people have been killed in and around the North Kivu capital, Goma, since January, according to Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba.
Despite the presence of the United Nations peacekeeping force MONUSCO, eastern DRC has remained a battleground for armed groups and government forces for decades, with little sign of lasting peace.
