Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi joined other regional leaders in Tanzania on Saturday, where a summit called for an “immediate ceasefire” in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The violence, fueled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, has escalated as the group rapidly seized large portions of territory in the mineral-rich eastern DRC. Thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced as the conflict continues to intensify.
The M23 captured the strategic city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week, and is now pushing into neighboring South Kivu in the latest chapter of decades of turmoil in the region.
The summit, held in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, brought together leaders from the eight-member East African Community (EAC) and the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC). Kenyan President William Ruto, current chair of the EAC, called for immediate action, urging all parties to implement the ceasefire. “We call on all parties to actualize the ceasefire, and specifically on the M23 to halt further advancement, and the armed forces of DRC to cease all retaliatory measures,” Ruto said.
The summit also saw the participation of presidents from Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Ongoing Tensions and Regional Fears
The M23 group, which re-emerged in 2021, has seen multiple rounds of failed peace talks and collapsing ceasefire agreements, hosted by countries like Angola and Kenya. While Rwanda denies military support for the M23, a United Nations report last year claimed that Rwanda had around 4,000 troops operating in the DRC and was profiting from the smuggling of gold and coltan, key minerals vital for electronics.
Rwanda, for its part, accuses the DRC of harboring the FDLR, an armed militia made up of ethnic Hutus responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
As the M23 advances toward the critical town of Kavumu, which hosts an airport vital for supplying Congolese troops, the situation in South Kivu is becoming increasingly dire. Kavumu represents the last significant obstacle before the M23 reaches Bukavu, the South Kivu provincial capital, which sits on the Rwandan border. Panic has swept the city, with locals barricading shops and schools suspending classes as fears of looting and violence escalate.
“The border with Rwanda is open but almost impassable because of the number of people trying to cross. It’s total chaos,” a resident of Bukavu told AFP.
Humanitarian Crisis and Violations
The conflict has also sparked widespread humanitarian concerns, with UN rights chief Volker Turk warning that the worst could still be ahead for the people of eastern DRC and beyond. “If nothing is done, the worst may be yet to come,” Turk said, adding that nearly 3,000 people had been confirmed dead, with almost 3,000 more wounded since the M23 entered Goma on January 26. He noted that the final tolls are likely to be much higher.
Turk also revealed that his team is investigating numerous reports of rape, gang rape, and sexual slavery in the affected areas.
The M23 has already installed its own authorities in Goma and is pushing to extend its reach. The group has vowed to march all the way to the national capital, Kinshasa, even though the city lies roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away.
Meanwhile, the Congolese military, known for its issues with training and corruption, has been forced into repeated retreats as the M23 continues its offensive.
Concerns of Regional Conflict
The M23’s advances have raised fears of a broader regional war, as several countries, including South Africa, Burundi, and Malawi, are providing military support to the DRC. With the conflict showing no signs of abating, the international community is watching closely, hoping that the summit’s call for a ceasefire can provide a glimmer of hope for peace in the region.
