South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the recent East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Joint Summit as a historic step towards lasting peace in the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The summit, held in Tanzania, brought together regional leaders in a unified effort to end decades of conflict and address the escalating security crisis in the region.

The summit took place against the backdrop of rising violence in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group has taken control of Goma and made territorial gains, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. South Africa, a key player in regional peacekeeping, has deployed troops under both the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC). However, 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops recently lost their lives in the conflict, further highlighting the urgency of a diplomatic resolution.

The summit reaffirmed diplomacy as the most sustainable path to peace and underscored the need for inclusive dialogue. Among the key resolutions:

• An immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities to allow humanitarian aid corridors to operate.
• A securitisation plan for Goma, including the reopening of Goma airport, evacuation of civilians, and repatriation of the deceased.
• Direct negotiations between all state and non-state actors, including the M23 rebel group, under the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.
• The withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from DRC to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President Ramaphosa welcomed these resolutions, emphasizing that without inclusive negotiations, diplomatic solutions would lack credibility and long-term sustainability. He praised the leadership of Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in facilitating the joint summit, stressing that this collaborative approach marks a major step forward.

Reflecting on the legacy of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s solidarity with the Congolese people and their right to peace, security, and freedom from external exploitation. He reiterated South Africa’s commitment to a diplomatic and political solution, prioritizing stability in DRC and the broader Great Lakes region.

With the EAC-SADC framework now in motion, regional leaders and defence forces will work towards implementing the agreed resolutions, offering a renewed hope for peace in the eastern DRC after decades of conflict.