African Leaders Demand Immediate Ceasefire in Congo Crisis

Amid escalating violence, African leaders urge warring factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo to agree to an immediate ceasefire for peace and stability.

On Saturday, leaders from eastern and southern Africa urged for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo, where rebels pose a threat to the Congolese government. They also encouraged the President of Congo to engage in direct negotiations with these rebel groups.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who participated in the summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania via videoconference, has previously stated that he would never engage in talks with the M23 rebels. He views them as being supported by Rwanda and motivated by a desire to exploit his country’s immense mineral resources.

A statement released at the conclusion of discussions called for the renewal of “direct negotiations and dialogue with all state and non-state parties,” including M23. These rebels captured Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, after clashes that resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands, according to the U.N.

The historic joint summit brought together leaders from the East African Community bloc, to which both Rwanda and Congo belong, along with representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), encompassing nations that stretch from Congo to South Africa.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame participated in the summit alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, tensions have arisen with Rwanda due to Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy South African troops in eastern Congo under SADC’s banner to combat M23.

Rwanda has alleged that the deployment of SADC peacekeepers has exacerbated the conflict in North Kivu, a mineral-rich province in eastern Congo currently under M23 control. Kagame argues that SADC troops cannot be considered peacekeepers since they have been actively fighting alongside Congolese forces to defeat the rebels.

According to U.N. experts, the rebels are supported by approximately 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda. On the other hand, Congolese government forces receive assistance from regional peacekeepers, U.N. forces, allied militias, and troops from neighboring Burundi. Their current focus is on preventing the rebels from capturing Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.

Dialogue is not an indication of weakness.

The M23 rebellion is partly rooted in Rwanda’s longstanding worries that rebel groups opposing Kagame’s government have been permitted by Congo’s military to operate in the largely ungoverned areas of eastern Congo. Additionally, Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of ignoring the valid concerns of Congolese Tutsis who experience discrimination.

Kenyan President William Ruto addressed the summit, emphasizing that “the well-being of millions relies on our capacity to wisely and empathetically navigate this intricate and challenging situation.”

“Dialogue isn’t a sign of weakness,” stated Ruto, the current chair of the East African Community. “With this mindset, we must encourage all parties to set aside their differences and engage in constructive dialogue.”

The M23’s advance mirrored the rebels’ earlier capture of Goma over ten years ago and broke a 2024 ceasefire between Rwanda and Congo, which had been negotiated by Angola.

Some regional analysts worry that the rebels’ new offensive is more powerful because they are connecting their struggle to broader demands for improved governance. They have also pledged to advance all the way to Kinshasa, located 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) west of Goma.

Rebels are under pressure to withdraw from Goma.

In an open letter to the summit, the Congo River Alliance—a coalition of rebel groups such as M23—claimed they are opposing a Congolese regime that has “violated republican norms” and is “becoming a grave threat to the Congolese people.”

“Those opposing Mr. Tshisekedi are true sons of the nation, representing all provinces,” it stated. “Our revolution is national in scope, embracing individuals from diverse ethnic and community backgrounds, including Congolese citizens who speak Kinyarwanda.”

The letter, signed by Corneille Nangaa, a leader of the rebel alliance, indicated that the group was “willing to engage in direct dialogue” with the Congolese government.

However, the rebels and their allies are also under pressure to withdraw from Goma.

Along with urging the immediate reopening of Goma’s airport, the Dar es Salaam summit also advocated for establishing “modalities for withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed groups” from Congolese territory.

In a meeting in Equatorial Guinea on Friday, the Economic Community of Central African States—another regional bloc—demanded the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congo and urged for the reopening of the airport to improve access to humanitarian aid.