East African Community (EAC) Heads of State have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as regional leaders intensify efforts to restore peace in the conflict-affected region.
The appeal was made during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held Saturday in Arusha, Tanzania, which brought together leaders from across the bloc to review progress on regional integration and security.
The meeting was attended by Kenya’s President William Ruto, Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Rwanda was represented by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva on behalf of President Paul Kagame, while South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo sent senior ministers.
According to the communiqué issued after the meeting, the summit reviewed progress under the EAC-led Nairobi peace process aimed at restoring stability in eastern DR Congo.
The leaders said they had “taken note of the progress made in restoring peace and stability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.”
They also commended Kenya’s President William Ruto for coordinating the regional peace initiative during his tenure as chairperson of the bloc.
The communiqué noted that the summit “commended H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the East African Community for steering the implementation of the decisions of the Summit relating to the peace and security situation in Eastern DRC.”
At the same meeting, regional leaders urged all armed groups involved in the conflict to halt hostilities immediately.
They “called on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and observe immediate ceasefire while recommitting to peaceful resolution of their differences.”
The summit also appealed to the African Union to provide additional support to ongoing mediation efforts.
Leaders “urged the African Union to provide requisite financial and logistical resources to the AU-led mediation process on Eastern DRC to ensure expeditious and sustainable engagement of the process till conclusion.”
The summit further acknowledged efforts by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni under the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to help address the conflict.
Eastern DR Congo has remained unstable for decades, with numerous armed groups operating in the mineral-rich region and repeated attempts by regional bodies to broker lasting peace.
