President Ruto calls for ceasefire, dialogue to end DRC crisis

Kenya’s President William Ruto and Chairperson of the Eat African Community (EAC) has called for an immediate ceasefire and urgent diplomatic intervention to address the escalating crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Speaking at the joint summit of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania today, Ruto urged all parties involved to embrace dialogue and take collective action to restore stability.

Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia) attended the joint EAC-SADC Summit.

Other countries were represented by vice-presidents, prime ministers and cabinet ministers.

Ruto further called for the consolidation of the of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes into a single regional framework to minimizes the risk of parallel efforts that may undermine peace efforts.

Ruto said the DRC conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and not military action. He emphasised the need for a comprehensive dialogue that addresses the underlying causes of the crisis while securing the DRC’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He also acknowledged the complexity of the conflict, describing it as protracted and involving multiple actors with varying interests.

President Ruto and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa are co-chairing the ongoing summit, with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi participating virtually.

“The recent escalation of hostilities in Goma and the surrounding areas is a stark reminder of the increasing fragility the situation presents and that only urgent collective action to facilitate a negotiated solution will offer relief,” said Ruto.

He urged all warring parties, including the M23 rebels and the Congolese armed forces, to cease hostilities immediately.

“We stand together to call on all parties to actualize the ceasefire; and specifically, on the M23 to halt further advancement and the armed forces of the DRC, to cease all retaliatory measures,” Ruto stated.

“The security of the DRC is essential not only to the stability of the country but also to the prosperity and cohesion of the entire EAC and SADC. We call upon all parties to prioritize dialogue, cooperation, and, above all, the protection of civilian lives,” he added.

Ruto, who is also the co-chair of the summit, dismissed military solutions as ineffective and urged a diplomatic approach that addresses the root causes of the crisis.

“We must resist the temptation to think we can shoot or bombard our way into a solution. Only a comprehensive diplomatic approach will establish lasting peace,” he stated.

On his part, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, who is also the chairperson of SADC, called for an end to the conflict in DRC.

He urged SADC and EAC leadership to unite and explore ways of addressing the conflict to avert further loss of lives and destruction of property.

“Unity and prosperity of the people of our continent should be our focus. We must remain united as we were in the fight against colonialism,” he said.

He said it was crucial to approach the war in Eastern DRC with openness, honesty and flexibility if a lasting solution was to be realised.

“Dialogue among all parties is critical in this process. I am confident this summit will come up with a roadmap for restoring peace and stability in DRC,” President Mnangagwa said.

During a joint meeting of Ministers held in Dar es Salaam yesterday ahead of today’s summit to deliberate the security situation in DRC, the ministers from the various member states agreed on the need to urgently resume the Nairobi process and enhance structural coordination and complementarity with the Luanda process.

“Immediate implementation of the Concept of Operations of the harmonised plan for the neutralisation of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the lifting of Rwanda’s Defensive Measures and disengagement of the forces from DRC…there will be immediate engagement in dialogue with non-state parties including the M23 rebels.”

The Joint meeting of Ministers also decided that the Goma Airport should be reopened, together with main supply routes in order to ensure that the affected citizens receive humanitarian assistance.

This comes after the M23 rebels took control of the largest city in Eastern Congo, seizing the airport and causing disruption and displacement.

While expressing his appreciation to his co-chair via his social media post, Kenya’s Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said that: “beyond the humanitarian toll, the conflict is evolving into broader threats, including sexual violence as a weapon of war, resource exploitation, and the weakening of state institutions. A collective response is crucial. Dialogue remains our strongest tool in forging a sustainable solution, and I urge all stakeholders to embrace it.”