EAC, SADC To Hold Another Meeting On Eastern DRC Crisis

The East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are set to hold another meeting next week to discuss the escalating conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This follows last month’s joint summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where leaders from both regional blocs committed to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

The decision to convene another meeting was reached after talks between EAC Chairperson President William Ruto and SADC Chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Windhoek, Namibia.

In a statement, President Ruto reaffirmed the commitment of the two blocs to implementing resolutions from the February summit and working towards sustainable peace in Eastern DRC.

“The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) are firmly committed to implementing the resolutions of our joint summit held last month in Dar es Salaam. Our primary focus is to address the crisis and deliver lasting peace,” said Ruto.

Beyond the DRC crisis, the leaders also agreed to strengthen regional integration and trade through the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA), which brings together the EAC, SADC, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). They also pledged to advance the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

During the February EAC-SADC summit, Ruto had urged African leaders to give the DRC crisis urgent attention, warning that ongoing violence had disrupted the lives of millions and hindered economic progress.

The Kenyan President also called for a united EAC-SADC approach, with a well-structured secretariat to oversee coordination and enforcement of peace efforts.