Rwandan, Congolese leaders hold talks on Eastern DRC conflict

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi joined a summit in Tanzania on Saturday where regional leaders called for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has rapidly seized swathes of territory in the mineral-rich eastern DRC in an offensive that has left thousands dead and displaced vast numbers.

The group took the strategic city of Goma, capital of North Kivu province, last week and is pushing into neighbouring South Kivu in the latest episode of decades-long turmoil in the region.

Kagame took part in person at the summit in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam that brought together the eight countries of the East African Community (EAC)and 16-member South African Development Community.

Tshisekedi appeared via video call.

“We call on all parties to actualise the ceasefire, and specifically on the M23 to halt further advancement and the armed forces of DRC to cease all retaliatory measures,” said Kenyan President William Ruto, current chair of the EAC.