President Ruto convenes an immediate EAC summit over escalating conflict in Eastern DRC
President William Ruto, the current Chair of the East African Community (EAC), has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) citing an escalating humanitarian crisis
President William Ruto, the current Chair of the East African Community (EAC), has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) citing an escalating humanitarian crisis.
In a communiqué on Sunday, Ruto noted that the crisis has been worsened by the ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma which has impeded access to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations.
“These alarming developments, coupled with rising diplomatic tensions in the region, underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that continues to inflict untold suffering on the people, particularly women and children,” noted Ruto.
President Ruto therefore urged DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame (Rwanda) to heed the call for peace, and implement necessary actions to achieve peace in the war-torn region.
“We firmly believe that a sustainable solution can only be achieved through engagement, constructive dialogue, and a renewed commitment to peace,” he said.
He added that he has convened an extraordinary EAC Summit within the next 48 hours due to the dire situation to deliberate on a way forward.
Ruto has also urged the African Union (AU) to not remain passive in the escalating crisis.
“The EAC stands ready to forge a stronger collaboration with the AU and SADC, as well as the international community in encouraging the warring parties to prioritise engagement.”
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Congolese rebels said on Sunday said they had taken Goma, the biggest city in the east of the mineral-rich country, after a lightning advance that has forced thousands of people to flee and fuelled concerns of a regional war.
“We have taken Goma and have ordered soldiers to surrender by 3:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT),” Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes the M23, told Reuters.
The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have quickly gained ground this month in Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict-riven eastern borderlands and launched an assault on Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the United States, France and Britain on Sunday condemned what they said was Rwanda’s backing of the rebel advance. Kigali has long denied supporting M23.
Rwanda’s U.N. Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo said his country regretted the deteriorating situation in eastern Congo, but blamed Kinshasa.
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