Defense chiefs from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) met yesterday in Dar es Salaam to discuss the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting followed an earlier session of EAC military chiefs held in Nairobi last week, highlighting sustained regional efforts to stabilize the volatile region.
At the Dar es Salaam meeting, Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was represented by Maj. Gen. James Birungi, the Chief of Defense Intelligence and Security. Some of the Defense chiefs in attendance included Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya of South Africa, Gen. Mubarakh Muganga of Rwanda, Gen. Charles Kahiriri of Kenya, and Gen. John Mkunda of Tanzania. Representatives from Zimbabwe, Zambia, the DRC, South Sudan, Malawi, and other EAC and SADC member states also participated.
The summit concluded with the signing of a joint proposal, which will now be presented to the EAC and SADC councils of ministers for further deliberation. The ministers are expected to refine the proposal before submitting it to the heads of state for final approval and implementation.
The meeting reflects a coordinated regional approach to addressing the crisis, with a focus on military and political strategies to restore stability in the eastern DRC.
Background
The Nairobi and Dar es Salaam meetings were held in response to a directive issued by the joint EAC-SADC Heads of State Summit earlier this month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The defense chiefs focused on critical directives, including an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations, the opening of main supply routes to facilitate aid delivery, the development of a comprehensive securitization plan for Goma and surrounding areas, the immediate reopening of Goma Airport, and recommendations for other facilitative interventions to stabilize the region.
The eastern DRC has long been plagued by conflict, involving armed groups and ethnic tensions. In recent weeks, the M23 rebels have escalated the crisis by seizing control of key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, with fierce intensifying the need for regional intervention.