East African Community to Convene Extraordinary Summit on DRC-Rwanda Crisis, Kenya's Ruto States

The East African Community (EAC) will convene an extraordinary summit on the DRC-Rwanda crisis within 48 hours, where Rwandan President Paul Kagame will meet DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, Kenyan head of state and EAC chairman William Ruto said on Sunday.

"After consulting the heads of state of the EAC member states, we will convene an extraordinary summit in the next 48 hours to chart the way forward," the Kenyan president said in an address on X.

According to media reports later, the summit is expected to be organized on Wednesday.

President Ruto also called for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and emphasized the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations and urged both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve the conflict.

"As chair of the EAC, I call on the parties to the Luanda process and my brothers, President Felix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, both of whom I have spoken to this evening, to heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community," Ruto emphasized.

The actions of the M23 armed group contravene the EAC-led Nairobi Peace Process and are a clear violation of the agreed ceasefire brokered through the Luanda Process, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat said in a statement on Saturday, referring to Wednesday's attack by the M23 armed group on the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) in Goma.

"SADC unequivocally condemns this act of aggression by the M23 operating in the Eastern DRC, adding that such actions undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace and security of the DRC and the SADC region. [...] The rebel group M23 attacked the SAMIDRC in Goma, to which SAMIDRC retaliated and successfully repelled the armed group," read the statement.

The SADC called on all the parties of the conflict to adhere to their obligations in the ceasefire, urging for immediate cessation of hostilities and atrocities perpetrated by M23, as well as unconditional withdrawal from all occupied positions, according to the statement.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Rebels Reportedly Claim Capture of DR Congo's Goma

27 January, 09:06

Key information on rebel advances in the North Kivu province in eastern DRC:

DRC authorities reportedly closed the border with Rwanda in the east of the country on Monday amid clashes with rebel groups, leaving no one to cross except for some UN staff and their families who were evacuated on Monday;

Deadly clashes in eastern DRC sparked an emergency UNSC meeting on Sunday as M23 rebels advance;

The UNSC condemned the M23 group's advances towards the city of Goma in the North Kivu province and demanded an immediate halt of clashes;

A mass prisoner escape took place at a jail in the rebel-besieged city of Goma after militants advanced and guards fled, a French media outlet reported, citing security sources;

The DRC and Rwandan forces shell each other's positions across the common border, reports say;

Fleeing fighting between DRC government forces and M23 rebels, tens of thousands of people have made their way to the outskirts of the city of Goma, where more than 650,000 people were previously displaced, Doctors Without Borders said;

Last week, the DRC reportedly severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda, accusing Kigali of supporting the M23 rebel group.

The DRC government said on Monday that the Rwandan army is present in Goma, and called on the population to remain calm and to mobilize forces.