By Aggrey Baba
Dar es Salaam- African leaders have today, gathered in Tanzania for a joint summit between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) taking center stage.
Among the key voices at the summit is President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, who has advised his Congolese counterpart, H.E. Felix Tshisekedi, to engage directly with those in conflict with his government.
Taking to his official X account, President Museveni stated, “My earlier proposal for this summit was that H.E. Tshisekedi should speak directly to those who are in conflict with him, as this impacts all of us. There is no other forum better suited to address this issue than this summit. I therefore hope for a fruitful discussion.”
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, primarily involving the M23 rebel group, has claimed countless lives and displaced thousands.
Tshisekedi has repeatedly accused President Paul Kagame, the president Rwanda of backing the rebels, allegations that Kigali has consistently denied. Despite military efforts, including SADC troop deployments, the fighting persists, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
M7, a seasoned statesman with decades of experience in conflict resolution, has long championed direct dialogue over prolonged warfare. His latest remarks suggest a belief that the summit presents a rare opportunity for Tshisekedi to engage with those fueling the crisis and seek a peaceful resolution.
As the summit progresses, all eyes are on whether the Congolese leader will embrace diplomatic engagement or continue to rely on military interventions.
The people of DRC, weary of war, are hopeful that their leaders will choose peace over conflict. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
