The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated the Tanzanian president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, the heads of state of Kenya, William Ruto, head of the East African Community (EAC) and of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo, president of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for their leadership in the meeting.
“Their commitment and collaboration to foster regional peace and stability in the spirit of African Solutions to African Problems are exemplary,” concluded the post on social network X.
The meeting of heads of state and government held the day before in Dar es Salaam reaffirmed the crucial role of the efforts of Luanda and Nairobi to stop the conflict in eastern DRC and decided to strengthen them to improve their complementarity, said the final communiqué of the meeting.
To this end, the co-presidents were tasked with, in consultation with the African Union, considering and designating additional facilitators, including from other regions of Africa, to support the merger process.
“The Joint Summit ordered the resumption of direct negotiations and dialogue with all state and non-state parties (military and non-military), including the M23 and within the framework of the Luanda/Nairobi process,” the text specified.
The summit expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC, which has led to the loss of human lives and a high number of displaced persons, aggravating the humanitarian crisis in that country.
The heads of State and Government also expressed concern over the escalation of the crisis, with attacks against diplomatic missions and their personnel based in Kinshasa.
They called for the cessation of hostilities and an immediate ceasefire, the restoration of equipment and supply lines of food and other essential products to ensure humanitarian support.
In this regard, they instructed the Chiefs of Staff of the Defence Forces of the member countries of both blocs to convene a meeting within a period of five days in order to provide technical guidance on the immediate and unconditional cessation of fire and hostilities. The summit expressed condolences for the loss of lives in the recent attacks in the DRC and a speedy recovery for the wounded.
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