Civil societies want AU to act on eastern DRC issue to save lives
African leaders in the EAC region to protect civilians in the DRC
Civil societies in East and Southern Africa have urged the African leaders from the East African Community (EAC) region to protect civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and also de-escalate regional tensions.
The group noted that the crisis in eastern DRC marked by the capture of Goma and advancing to the North and South Kivu, has plunged the region into a severe humanitarian and security emergency.
“The violence has led to mass displacement, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, famine, and a surge in sexual and gender-based violence, disproportionately affecting women and children,” the civil societies noted.
The group urged EAC-SADC meeting in Dar es Salaam demonstrates commitment to have peace in DRC. However, given the scale of the crisis, they said diplomatic efforts must move beyond commitments to urgent, coordinated, and enforceable actions that will de-escalate the violence and lay the foundation for a sustainable resolution.
They called on EAC and SADC leaders to take decisive, coordinated, and responsible measures to halt the violence, enhance diplomatic engagement, and provide humanitarian relief while addressing the root causes of instability.
“The situation in Eastern DRC requires immediate intervention and strong leadership at the regional and international levels,” they said. They urged the African leaders, regional organizations, and the international community to ensure that hate speech and inflammatory speeches are stopped.
“We urge EAC and SADC leaders to publicly denounce and discourage divisive rhetoric in line with the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (2007) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966),” they said.
They said the Luanda Roadmap (2022) and the Nairobi Process (2022) remain vital frameworks for conflict resolution. They urged the DRC government to engage in a structured, transparent, and inclusive dialogue by ensuring that all actors are included.
The group said the January 3, 2025 ceasefire announcement was a critical step to deal with the issue. However, they noted that without proper monitoring of the ceasefire, everything will collapse leading to further civilian suffering.
