President leads push for peace in DRC . . .Security chiefs to be deployed immediately

Debra Matabvu

Chief Reporter

PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA, in his capacity as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), will soon engage his East African Community (EAC) counterpart and Kenyan President William Ruto to convene an emergency joint meeting of the two regional blocs to address the escalating conflict and worsening humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This follows resolutions made during Friday’s SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Mt Hampden, where regional leaders agreed to formally approach their counterparts in the EAC for a joint indaba to de-escalate the conflict and coordinate peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.

The SADC leaders also resolved to deploy a high-level delegation of defence ministers and defence chiefs to the DRC to assess the security situation and ensure the safety of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).

Apart from assessing the security situation, the high-level mission will also provide recommendations to regional leaders on stabilising the situation in the DRC and stopping the situation from escalating into a broader regional conflict.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail yesterday, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said both the high-level engagement between SADC and EAC, as well as the deployment of defence officials, will take place as soon as practical.

“As indicated in the summit communique, the ministers of defence will be dispatched immediately due to the urgency of the situation in the DRC,” said Prof Murwira.

“Their deployment is intended to assess the security landscape and provide advisory input accordingly.

“The SADC chairperson, President Mnangagwa, has indicated the need for intensified efforts to secure lasting peace in the region, particularly in eastern DRC. The joint SADC-EAC meeting will also be arranged as soon as practical because the humanitarian crisis cannot be allowed to deteriorate further.

“In his capacity as SADC chairperson, President Mnangagwa will soon engage his EAC counterpart, President William Ruto, to finalise the dates for the joint summit.”

The resolution for a joint SADC-EAC meeting reflects the urgency and complexity of the crisis, which affects both regional blocs, as armed groups are operating across borders.

It is particularly significant because the two main belligerents in the conflict — Rwanda and the DRC — are both members of the EAC, while the DRC is also a member of SADC.

This dual membership creates a unique dynamic that necessitates a coordinated regional response to prevent the conflict from spiralling into a broader regional conflict.

At their 24th Extraordinary Summit on Wednesday, EAC Heads of State had also made a similar proposal.

By bringing together the two regional blocs, with a combined membership of 23 countries — seven in the EAC and 16 in SADC — the meeting will seek to contain the conflict, coordinate peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, and address the root causes of the crisis.

Minister Murwira said the collaborative approach was essential for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region, while also demonstrating African leadership in resolving African problems.

Addressing the closing session of Friday’s Heads of State and Government meeting, President Mnangagwa underscored the sanctity of regional stability.

“The realisation of the SADC Vision 2050 and the Africa we all want under the African Union Agenda 2063 are intricately dependent on an unshakeable foundation of political stability, peace and security,” said the President.

“As masters of our own destiny, we, therefore, remain relentless in our quest to create a SADC and an Africa that plays its part at the global stage, guided by the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the spirit of African Renaissance.

“It is the individual and collective duty of all member states to do much more towards permanently silencing the guns if we are to succeed in achieving these aspirations.

“Together we must march forward; no one and no place must be left behind.

“Hence, bold and decisive measures must continue to be implemented to adequately resource and equip our mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) so that it continues to execute its mandate.”

According to the communique released after Friday’s summit, deployment of regional defence chiefs to the DRC will ensure the safety of SAMIDRC forces.

“Summit called for the immediate dispatch of ministers of defence, chiefs of defence and troop-contributing countries to DRC to ensure that the SAMIDRC troops are safe and facilitate immediate repatriation of the deceased troops and those who are injured,” reads the communique.

“Summit called for an immediate joint summit of SADC and East African Community to deliberate on the way forward regarding the security situation in the DRC as proposed by the 24th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State of the EAC held on January 29, 2025.”

Additionally, the summit mandated the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to engage all state and non-state actors involved in the conflict to negotiate a ceasefire, protect civilian lives and facilitate the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities.

The conflict in the eastern DRC involves a complex web of state and non-state actors. They include the governments of the DRC and Rwanda, which are directly or indirectly involved in the fight.

It also involves non-state actors, including armed groups such as the M23 rebels, as well as other militias and local defence forces operating in the region.

Also in the mix are regional and international players that include neighbouring countries, foreign peacekeeping forces and international organisations with vested interests in the region.

It is envisaged that by engaging all these parties, the SADC Organ Troika will ensure that no critical stakeholder is excluded from the peace process, which could be essential for building trust, addressing grievances and achieving a ceasefire that is respected by all sides.

Friday’s extraordinary summit, chaired by President Mnangagwa, was attended by Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania); Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa); Daniel Chapo (Mozambique); Duma Boko (Botswana); and Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar); and Prime Minister Sam Matekane (Lesotho), with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi (DRC) and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia) attending virtually.

In 2023, SADC extended its military mission in the DRC to support the Congolese army against M23 rebels.

However, in recent weeks, the rebel group has advanced south towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, in what appears to be an attempt to expand its control after capturing Goma.

M23, an ethnic Tutsi-led insurgent group, launched its latest rebellion in 2022, citing the Congolese government’s alleged failure to implement a 2009 peace agreement that called for the integration of Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration.

The latest offensive represents a major escalation of the longstanding conflict over power, identity and natural resources. It has seen hundreds of thousands of people being killed and millions displaced.