Rwanda has welcomed a proposal for a joint summit between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to address the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Tensions have escalated as the M23 armed group, which the UN and several nations claim is backed by Rwanda, has gained ground in the DRC. Meanwhile, Rwanda accuses Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Rwanda’s foreign ministry emphasized its commitment to a political resolution, though it criticized the presence of SADC’s peacekeeping force in the region. President Paul Kagame did not attend the recent SADC emergency meeting, while his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, participated virtually.
The situation remains volatile as regional leaders seek solutions to the conflict, which has destabilized the mineral-rich region for decades.