DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – President William Ruto is in Tanzania where he is expected to co-chair the East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit.
President Ruto who departed the country on the evening of Friday, February 7, 2025 is expected to join other regional leaders in discussing the escalating crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We look forward to an outcome that will diffuse tensions, foster peace and further advance regional integration and development,” said Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah who was among leaders who saw off the head of state at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
President Ruto has arrived safely in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania received with warmth and hospitality by the government and the citizens of TZ. The President will be chairing the extraordinary EAC-SADC Summit that seeks to find long lasting peace solutions to Goma and Eastern DRC.
The head of state who concluded his visit of the North Eastern region on Friday is the current chairperson the EAC after taking over from his Sudan counterpart, Salva Kirr.
Already, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Musalia has co-chaired the EAC-SADC Ministers’ Meeting on the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
Mudavadi who left the country on Thursday said their discussions focused on negotiation as a key pathway to ending the prolonged crisis, which continues to displace millions and expose vulnerable groups of women, children, and Persons with Disabilities to severe harm.
“Beyond the humanitarian toll, the conflict is evolving into broader threats, including sexual violence as a weapon of war, resource exploitation, and the weakening of state institutions,” said Mudavadi.
He observed that a collective response is crucial.
“Dialogue remains our strongest tool in forging a sustainable solution, and I urge all stakeholders to embrace it,” Mudavadi who doubles as the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS said.
Mudavadi was joined by his co-chair, Prof. Amon Murwira, and fellow Foreign Ministers.
Apparently, DRC effectively snubbed the talks, sending its ambassador to Botswana and SADC instead of a minister.
Attending countries included Kenya, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Somalia, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, and Malawi.
“We now look ahead to tomorrow’s Summit, where Heads of State and Government will chart a united course for peace in DRC,” explained Mudavadi.
Early this week, former president Uhuru Kenyatta sent a report to brief the EAC, African Union (AU) and SADC Secretaries on his work as mandated by the Summit of EAC.
Uhuru is the Facilitator of the East Africa Community-Led-Nairobi Process for the Restoration of Peace and Stability in the Eastern DRC.
The former head of state prepared the brief in light of the dire and escalating situation in the Eastern DRC and upcoming consultations on the matter.
It is intended as a briefing for the ongoing joint summit of SADC and EAC, as well as the AU 37th Ordinary Session to be held this February.
Uhuru is of the strong opinion and belief that the two processes of Luanda and Nairobi hold the greatest promise for a resolution and termination of the crisis in the Eastern DRC.
“There is an African solution to this African problem, and it is predicted to bring both the DRC and Rwanda back to the negotiation table while at the same time ensuring that the internal dynamics of people and politics in the Eastern DRC are managed and directed to a path of peace and reconciliation through the intra-Congolese dialogue process,” reads a three-page statement from Uhuru’s office.
