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African Leaders Call for Immediate Ceasefire on Eastern DRC Conflict

February 9, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

A summit of regional leaders has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire within five days in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi participated in the summit in Tanzania, where African leaders expressed deep concern over the ongoing crisis. Kagame attended in person, while Tshisekedi joined via video call.

In the concluding statement, the summit urged military leaders from both nations to convene within five days to guide achieving an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. It also emphasised the need to establish humanitarian corridors for evacuating the dead and injured.

The Rwanda-supported M23 armed group has rapidly captured large areas in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, leading to thousands of deaths and mass displacement. The group took control of the strategic city of Goma last week and is advancing into neighbouring South Kivu, marking yet another chapter in the region’s long-standing turmoil.

Fighting continued Saturday about 40 miles (60 km) from the provincial capital, Bukavu, according to local and security sources. The summit in Dar es Salaam gathered leaders from the eight countries of the East African Community (EAC) and the 16-member Southern African Development Community. Since the M23’s resurgence in 2021, peace negotiations have faltered, and various ceasefires have collapsed. Rwanda denies providing military support to the M23, although a UN report indicated that around 4,000 Rwandan troops were present in the DRC and involved in smuggling valuable minerals.

Rwanda has accused the DRC of harbouring the FDLR, an armed group formed by Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The summit coincides with reports that M23 is advancing toward the town of Kavumu, which has a key airport for supplying Congolese troops. Panic has erupted in Bukavu as residents board up shops and try to flee, with the open but congested border with Rwanda adding to the chaos.

UN rights chief Volker Türk warned that without intervention, the situation could worsen for people in eastern DRC and beyond. He noted that nearly 3,000 people had been confirmed killed and nearly 2,900 injured since the M23 entered Goma on January 26, with actual numbers likely much higher. His team is also investigating numerous allegations of sexual violence. The M23 has already set up local governance in Goma and intends to push toward the national capital, Kinshasa, located about 1,000 miles away.

The DRC army, known for its poor training and corruption, has faced multiple defeats. The M23’s offensive raises concerns about potential regional conflict, as several countries, including South Africa, Burundi, and Malawi, are involved in military support for the DRC.