Regional leaders convened in Tanzania to seek an end to the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, where the Rwandan-backed M23 Movement has been making rapid territorial gains. Despite calls for an immediate ceasefire, skepticism remains among locals in the affected areas.
An uneasy calm settled over eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday following an urgent plea from regional powers fearing the eruption of a wider war. They implored Congolese and pro- Rwanda n forces to agree to a ceasefire within five days. The Rwanda n-backed M23 Movement has been rapidly seizing swathes of territory in the DRC's mineral-rich east in recent months. This fighting has tragically claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless families.
Concerned about the conflict spilling over into neighboring countries, leaders from East and Southern Africa converged at a summit on Saturday, urging for an 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi participated, with Tshisekedi joining virtually. However, in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, which is within the M23's sights, locals expressed skepticism about the summit's ability to deliver lasting peace. 'If the agreements are genuinely respected, I can hope for a solution to the security crisis, but only if Kagame and his counterpart Tshisekedi meet and talk to each other without hypocrisy,' stated Bukavu resident Heritier Zahinda. The M23 offensive marks another devastating chapter in the decades-long violence that has plagued eastern DRC. This region has been wracked by conflict between various ethnic groups since the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. Kigali accuses Kinshasa of providing sanctuary to the FDLR, an armed group composed of ethnic Hutus who perpetrated the 1994 Rwandan genocide massacres. In early February, the M23, which claims to defend ethnic Tutsis, seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province bordering Rwanda. After fierce fighting on Saturday, 60 kilometers (35 miles) from Bukavu, the front line remained relatively calm on Sunday, according to local and security sources. Past attempts to establish ceasefires and truces since the M23's resurgence in 2021 have repeatedly collapsed. In Kinshasa, shaken by Goma's capture, Notre-Dame du Congo Cathedral hosted a 'solidarity mass' on Sunday. Among the attendees was international relations researcher Jules Kasereka, who expressed apprehension that a ceasefire 'without any binding status' would likely be disregarded. The East African Community (EAC) and the 16-member Southern African Development Community summit, held in Tanzania on Saturday, followed mediation efforts spearheaded by Angola and Kenya. The final statement reaffirmed their support for the DRC's territorial integrity and urged the establishment of humanitarian corridors to facilitate the evacuation of the dead and wounded. Robert Njangala, head of a youth association in Bukavu, criticized the summit leaders for 'not demanding the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese soil'. A United Nations experts' report from last year alleged that Rwanda maintains approximately 4,000 troops in the DRC and exerts de facto control over the M23. The report further accused Kigali of profiting from the smuggling of vast quantities of minerals out of the DRC.
Democratic Republic Of Congo M23 Rwanda Ceasefire East African Community Southern African Development Community Conflict Humanitarian Crisis
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