Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi are set to meet in Tanzania to discuss the escalating conflict due to the M23 armed group’s offensive in eastern DRC, which has led to heavy casualties and displacement. The summit aims to unify efforts across East African nations to address ongoing violence and potential regional instability.
On Saturday, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is scheduled to meet with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in Tanzania. This summit aims to address the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the M23 armed group has rapidly taken control of territory, resulting in significant casualties and massive displacement. The M23’s recent capture of the strategic city of Goma heralds an escalation of longstanding instability in the eastern DRC.
The meeting will involve leaders from the eight East African Community nations and 16 members of the Southern African Development Community in Dar es Salaam. There have been numerous unsuccessful peace initiatives since the resurgence of the M23 in 2021, hosted by Angola and Kenya. Rwanda has denied allegations of military support for M23 forces, despite a U.N. report indicating the presence of Rwandan troops allegedly involved in illicit mineral trade.
Rwanda accuses the DRC of providing sanctuary to the FDLR, an armed group formed by Hutus responsible for the 1994 genocide of Tutsis. The summit comes amid M23’s advances towards Kavumu, a town crucial for supplying Congolese troops, causing widespread panic in nearby Bukavu. Residents have reported barricaded shops and disrupted educational activities due to fears of violence and looting as many attempt to flee across the border into Rwanda.
U.N. rights chief Volker Turk has raised alarm over the spiraling violence, highlighting nearly 3,000 confirmed deaths and significant reports of sexual violence associated with the conflict. Since its takeover of Goma, the M23 has established its administrative apparatus, openly declaring an intent to advance towards DRC’s capital, Kinshasa, despite the vast geographic distance.
The Congolese army is under intense pressure as it faces multiple setbacks, raising concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. South Africa, Burundi, and Malawi are known to be providing military support to the DRC. On the first day of the summit, regional foreign ministers convened, with Kenyan Foreign Secretary Musalia Mudavadi expressing that this occasion presents a significant opportunity to reconcile differing peace initiatives into a cohesive strategy.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been mired in conflict for decades, particularly in its mineral-rich eastern regions. The M23, an armed group that emerged following the unrest in 2012, has reasserted its influence since 2021, prompting military responses from the DRC and discussions among regional leaders. The political tensions between Rwanda and the DRC are rooted in historical grievances, including accusations of cross-border militia support and the legacy of the Rwandan genocide, contributing to the ongoing instability in the region.
The upcoming meeting between Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi highlights the urgent need for a multipronged approach to resolving the conflict in the eastern DRC. With escalating violence and humanitarian crises manifesting, regional cooperation among East African nations is essential. The situation remains precarious, and failure to address root causes may lead to further casualties and broader regional conflict.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
