SADC Leaders Convene in Harare to Address DRC Conflict

Regional summit seeks solutions to escalating violence in eastern Congo

by Adedotun Oyeniyi

KEY POINTS


  • SADC leaders meet in Harare to discuss peace in eastern DRC.
  • M23 rebel attacks have killed thousands and displaced millions.
  • Restoring stability is critical for regional economic development.

Heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are gathering in Harare this Friday for an extraordinary summit, focusing on the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The meeting, led by SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, aims to tackle the growing instability in Goma and North Kivu, where M23 rebels have intensified attacks.

According to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira, the discussions will center on regional efforts to restore peace, as ongoing violence threatens economic development and stability in Central Africa. Leaders will debate possible solutions and evaluate existing strategies to de-escalate the situation.

This summit follows an emergency virtual SADC Troika Summit held earlier this week in Tanzania, where regional leaders began deliberating potential interventions to curb the escalating crisis in the eastern DRC.

M23 rebel violence displaces millions

The M23 rebel militants based in the eastern North Kivu province have been responsible for killing thousands of people as well as displacing millions during the past twelve months. The North Kivu insurgency pushes SADC leaders to take immediate diplomatic action because it creates ongoing instability throughout the resource-rich area.

Attack operations by the rebels led to an escalation of displacement while worsening the ongoing humanitarian crisis despite past attempts at peace. Refugee camps based in Rwanda and Uganda now accommodate rising numbers of citizens who escape from the battlefields.

According to ZBC News, regional leaders recognize that without immediate intervention, the situation could spiral further out of control. The Harare summit will introduce enhanced military and diplomatic methods to stop the situation from growing more intense.

Restoring stability key to economic development

Stability of the eastern DRC region represents a core requirement for Central and Southern Africa’s economic progress to advance throughout the region.

The persistent violence along the area disrupts transportation paths that inhibits investments along with raising security concerns among neighboring countries.

In his view, Professor Murwira stated that DRC peace is not an isolated Congolese matter since regional stability holds crucial importance for economic development as well as regional integration progress.

Alongside border security enhancement discussions, the summit will work on developing collaborative peace operations.

The rising international focus on the DRC crisis places heavy pressure on SADC leaders to present an explicit plan for achieving peace. The summit is expected to provide details about diplomatic, humanitarian and military measures for battling M23 insurgency and returning stability throughout the region.

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