A recent summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, brought together leaders from eastern and southern Africa to address the escalating conflict in eastern Congo. The meeting aimed to de-escalate the situation where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels threatened to destabilize the Congolese government. Leaders called for an immediate ceasefire and urged Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to engage in direct negotiations with all parties involved, including the M23 rebels, despite his reluctance to negotiate with groups he accuses of exploiting Congo’s mineral wealth.

The summit included representatives from the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, highlighting the regional concern over the conflict’s potential to destabilize the area. Rwandan President Paul Kagame attended, despite tensions with South Africa, which has deployed troops to the region under SADC to combat M23. The rebels, who cite grievances against the Congolese government and advocate for better governance, have vowed to continue their offensive. Regional analysts express concern over the rebels’ potent push towards Kinshasa. A complex regional issue requires immediate de-escalation.