Virtual meeting of EAC leaders following the crisis in DRC/SCREENGRAB
East African Community (EAC) leaders are currently holding a
virtual extraordinary summit to discuss the growing crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
President William Ruto, who is currently in Egypt for a
two-day State visit, called the virtual meeting the EAC chair.
EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight partner states, comprising Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc on November 24, 2023 and became a full member on March 4, 2024.
State media in DRC on Wednesday reported that President Félix Tshisekedi would not take part in regionally brokered talks aimed at ending the rebel assault in the city of Goma.
No reason was given for the decision.
Ruto had invited Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to the meeting.
Rwanda is accused of backing the M23 rebel group, which has taken over much of the city, including its airport.
Kagame has expressed support for a ceasefire following a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The UN says there is extensive evidence that Rwanda is backing the M23, but Rwanda denies giving the rebels direct military support.
Goma was mostly quiet on Wednesday, with reports of sporadic gunfire in some districts.
Residents who had been hiding in safe areas ventured out to buy food that is becoming increasingly scarce following days of fighting.
Since the beginning of the week, clashes between M23 rebels
and the army and its allies left hospitals overwhelmed by casualties and bodies
on the streets, according to the UN.
Warehouses with food and medical supplies were also looted, aid agencies said.
Essential services have been unavailable since the offensive began, with electricity, water and internet cut.
Growing anger over the rebel offensive led to protesters targeting foreign embassies in the capital, Kinshasa.
At least 10 embassies were damaged and looted by protesters who demanded that the international community intervene to end the rebel assault, as they tightened their grip on Goma.
