NAIROBI, Kenya – The growing instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sparked concern among neighboring nations, with President William Ruto cautioning that the conflict could spiral beyond borders.
Speaking at a high-level East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, which he co-chaired with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ruto emphasized the dire consequences of inaction.
The meeting, attended by 15 heads of state and their representatives, underscored the urgent need for intervention to prevent further bloodshed, displacement, and regional instability.
This evening, as the chair of the East African Community, I co-chaired with President @edmnangagwa of Zimbabwe and chair of the Southern African Development Community, a virtual Joint Summit of EAC-SADC Heads of State on the escalating security situation in Eastern DRC.The
Action Plan for Lasting Peace
At the summit, leaders adopted a report from a March 17 meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, outlining a three-phase strategy to stabilize eastern DRC.
Immediate, medium, and long-term measures were agreed upon, signaling a unified push for sustainable peace.
To steer diplomatic efforts, a powerhouse panel of former African leaders was appointed as facilitators, including ex-Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo, and South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe.
They will be joined by Catherine Samba, former President of the Central African Republic, and Ethiopia’s former leader Sahle-Work Zewde.
Their mandate? Engage with key international bodies—including the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) Security Council—to align peace efforts and ensure swift action.
Meanwhile, Ruto and Mnangagwa were tasked with convening a strategy session with the facilitators within a week for a joint briefing by SADC, EAC, and the AU.
A Crisis Spiraling Out of Control
DRC is grappling with one of the world’s largest humanitarian disasters, with over 7,000 lives lost in recent months and millions forced to flee their homes.
The relentless violence, fueled by armed factions—most notably the M23 rebels—has escalated dramatically.
In January, M23 fighters seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
By February, Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, had also fallen, setting the stage for an advance further west.
The rebellion’s rapid gains have only deepened fears of prolonged conflict and wider instability.
With diplomatic efforts gaining momentum, the next few weeks will be critical in determining whether the region can turn the tide on war or if the crisis will continue to engulf the Great Lakes region.
