President William Ruto, who also serves as the chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), has called for an emergency meeting of EAC Heads of State on Wednesday to address the escalating crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The move comes after M-23 rebels declared that they had seized control of the eastern DRC capital of Goma, intensifying the already volatile situation in the region.
Speaking at a meeting of the African Union Institutional Reforms Retreat at State House Nairobi, President Ruto urged both President Félix Tshisekedi of DRC and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame to engage in dialogue to resolve the standoff. He stressed the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis, which has put thousands of lives at risk. As the situation continues to deteriorate, regional airline Jambojet has suspended flights to Goma, citing security concerns.
The violence in Goma erupted on Sunday and Monday, as M-23 rebels clashed with DRC’s security forces in the eastern city. Gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the day, as footage emerged of the rebels patrolling the main streets of Goma after advancing on the Congolese military. The fighting forced thousands of the city’s 1 million residents to flee for their lives.
Reports indicate that there were also exchanges of fire between DRC and Rwandan troops along their shared border on Monday, further heightening tensions in the region.
With the situation growing increasingly dire, President Ruto, as the EAC chairperson, intervened by calling for an immediate ceasefire and organizing a crisis meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
In a statement, President Ruto confirmed that both President Tshisekedi and President Kagame had agreed to attend the meeting, signaling a potential path toward dialogue. “We have agreed to have a meeting on Wednesday to discuss this crisis. Both Tshisekedi and Kagame have confirmed their attendance,” Ruto said.
Despite this, it remains uncertain whether the two leaders, who are reportedly at odds over the situation, will indeed participate in the discussions. DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M-23 rebels, a group named after the March 23, 2009, peace accord.
The rebels have intensified their campaign in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, a region that has suffered from decades of conflict, much of it rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
In a related development, President Ruto revealed that he had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron about the situation in the eastern DRC. “I have spoken to President Macron of France on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
He has expressed support for the regional efforts to deal with the challenge,” Ruto said. He further added that President Macron had committed France’s support for the ongoing peace interventions in the region, as well as Kenya’s participation in peace efforts in Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.
The crisis in eastern DRC has cast a long shadow over the region, and the international community is watching closely to see how the situation unfolds in the coming days.
The Wednesday meeting called by President Ruto represents a critical opportunity for the leaders of the EAC to address the crisis and work towards lasting peace in the region.
