Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, President William Ruto and Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Joint EAC-SADC meeting on the DR Congo crisis in Tanzania on February 8, 2025/PCSThe Heads of State from the EAC and SADC on Saturday directed Chiefs of Defence Forces from countries under the communities to meet in five days and give direction on various issues of concern.
In a communiqué from the meeting held in Dar es Salaam, on Saturday the Heads of State said the CDFs must provide technical direction on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.
They will also provide direction on the provision of humanitarian assistance, including repatriation of the deceased and evacuation of the injured.
“Develop a securitsation plan for Goma and surrounding areas.
“Opening of Main Supply Routes including Gma-Sake-Bukavu; Goma-Kibumba-Rumangabo-Kalengera-Rutshuru-Bunagan; and Goma-Kiwanja-Rwindi-Kanyabayonga-Lubero inckuding navigation on Lake Kivu between Goma and Bukavu,” the statement reads in part.
EAC-SADC heads further called for a plan on the immediate re-opening of Goma Airport and advise on other related facilitative interventions.
They further resolved to have a joint ministerial meeting in 30 days to review the report of the Chiefs of Defence Forces.
The Heads of State from the EAC and SADC resolved to meet yearly to review the progress on their efforts to broker peace in the war-ravaged eastern DRC.
“The Joint Summit decided that similar consultations shall be convened at least once every year and as and when the need arises to review matters of common interest to the two regions.”
The regional leaders stressed the importance of commitment to the dialogue to find lasting solutions to the political instability that has plagued the DRC for years.
