By PCS
A high-level joint summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) is set to take place on Friday and Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to address the ongoing conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The summit comes as regional leaders seek to foster dialogue and stability in the troubled region.
The meeting follows an agreement between SADC Chairman President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and EAC Chairperson President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya.
President Ruto expressed gratitude to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan for hosting the summit, stating, “President Samia Suluhu Hassan has graciously agreed to host the summit to deliberate on the situation in Eastern DRC.”
Key attendees include President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, both of whom have confirmed their participation.
The summit will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on Friday, with Heads of State convening on Saturday.
President Ruto also confirmed that he has engaged several other regional leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, all of whom have pledged their participation in the extraordinary summit.
The gathering underscores the urgency of addressing the protracted conflict in Eastern DRC, which has seen escalating violence and humanitarian crises. Regional leaders are expected to explore collaborative strategies to restore peace and stability in the area.
As the summit unfolds, the international community will be closely watching for outcomes that could pave the way for lasting solutions in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
