President William Ruto is set to co-chair another high-level crisis meeting this evening, bringing together leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to address the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to a statement released by the SADC secretariat on Sunday, March 23, the virtual meeting will be led by President Ruto alongside Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
The East African Community (EAC) also confirmed the meeting, stating that the discussions will focus on a report that was presented during the joint EAC-SADC Ministerial Meeting held on March 17 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“The Heads of State and Government of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold their second joint Summit on March 24, 2025, to address the worsening security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” the statement read.
“The virtual joint Summit will be co-chaired by His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the EAC, and His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of SADC,” the statement further explained.
Key Participants in the Meeting
The summit will bring together key representatives from both regional blocs. The SADC team will be represented by its Troika member states, including Angola and Madagascar, with the former and incoming chairs participating in the meeting. Other member states are also expected to join.
On the other hand, Tanzania’s chair, Malawi’s incoming chair, and Zambia’s former chairperson will take part in the discussions.
Additionally, South Africa will participate in the meeting, as its troops are currently deployed in the DRC to assist in stabilizing the region. The Democratic Republic of Congo itself will also be present at the discussions.
Ruto’s Continued Efforts in Resolving the Crisis
This will be the second time President Ruto is leading a high-level dialogue on the DRC crisis this year. In January, he convened an emergency meeting to address the situation, calling on regional leaders to take urgent action.
“After consulting with the Heads of State in the region regarding this critical situation, we will convene an extraordinary EAC Summit within the next 48 hours to deliberate on the crisis and explore possible solutions,” Ruto announced in a press statement on January 26.
During that meeting, Presidents of both DRC and Rwanda, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, were invited.
However, while Kagame confirmed attendance, Tshisekedi did not participate due to scheduling conflicts, as communicated by his spokesperson, Tina Salama, on January 29.
The upcoming summit is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the next steps in resolving the DRC crisis, with leaders aiming to find a lasting solution to the security challenges affecting the country and the region.
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