African leaders have called for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in the Democratic Republic of Congo during an extraordinary summit held in Tanzania on February 8, 2025.
The summit, which brought together leaders from the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community, aimed to address the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, where the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has seized large territories, causing widespread death and displacement.
The summit, held at the State House in Dar es Salaam, was attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame in person, while DRC President Felix Tshisekedi joined via video call.
In a final statement, the leaders urged army chiefs from both regional blocs to meet within five days and provide technical guidance on implementing the ceasefire.
They also called for the opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate the dead and injured.
The M23, a rebel group that re-emerged in 2021, has recently captured the strategic city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and is now advancing into South Kivu.
Fighting was reported just 60 kilometers (35 miles) from Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, raising fears of further displacement and humanitarian crises.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting the M23 militarily, but a United Nations report last year accused Rwanda of deploying around 4,000 troops in the DRC and profiting from smuggling gold and coltan, a mineral used in electronics.
Rwanda, in turn, accuses the DRC of harboring the FDLR, an armed group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The summit comes amid growing panic in South Kivu, where residents are fleeing the advancing M23 forces.
Reports indicate chaos at the border with Rwanda as people attempt to cross. “The border with Rwanda is open but almost impassable because of the number of people trying to cross. It’s total chaos,” a source told AFP.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk warned on Friday that the situation could worsen if no action is taken. He confirmed nearly 3,000 deaths and 2,880 injuries since the M23 entered Goma on January 26, with the actual toll likely much higher. Turk also highlighted allegations of rape, gang rape, and sexual slavery being investigated by his team.
The M23 has installed its own officials in Goma and has vowed to march to Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, located about 1,600 kilometers away. The DRC army, known for poor training and corruption, has struggled to contain the rebel advance.
The conflict has raised fears of a regional war, with several countries, including South Africa, Burundi, and Malawi, providing military support to the DRC.
The African leaders’ call for a ceasefire reflects the urgency of the situation and the need for a coordinated regional response to prevent further bloodshed and instability.
