The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has resolved to immediately dispatch ministers of defense, chiefs of defense and representatives of nations that deployed peacekeeping troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where rebels of the March 23 (M23) movement are threatening to overrun international and local security forces after seizing some parts of the mineral-rich eastern city of Goma.
In a communique after convening a four-hour SADC Exraordinary Summit in Harare on Friday, chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the leaders also resolved to convene an urgent meeting with the East African Community in an effort to resolve the security situation, which they claim may plunge the southern African region and some central and eastern nations into a serious military conflict.
The communique reads in part, “… Summit received the latest reports on the unfolding security situation in the Eastern part of the DRC and noted with concern the recent attacks by the M23 armed group and Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) on the Government Forces of DRC, the SADC
Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), and the civilian population in various areas of North Kivu.”
The SADC leaders further said there was urgent need to dispatch ministers of defence, chiefs of defence and troop contributing countries to DRC “to ensure that the SAMIDRC troops are
safe and facilitate immediate repatriation of the deceased troops and those who are
injured.”
At least 13 South African soldiers have been killed in fierce battles in Goma amid reports that the M23 rebels are now in control of some sections of the city where over 300,000 civilians have fled their homes.
The SADC leaders also commended efforts being made by Angola and Kenya in bringing lasting peace to the DRC.
They tasked Tanzanian President Salam Suluhu Hassan, who attended the summit and leads the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, to engage all state and non-state parties to the conflict on a ceasefire process to protect lives and facilitate a smooth flow of humanitarian support to people and communities affected by the armed conflict.
The SADC leaders further urged parties to the conflict “to engage in a coordinated effort of dialogue, including supporting the Luanda Process, MONUSCO and others, to restore peace and security” in the eastern region of the DRC.
Apart from Mnangagwa and Hassan, the other SADC leaders who attended the Extraordinary Summit are Félix Tshilombo Antoine Tshisekedi (DRC), Duma Boko (Botswana), Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia). Other were represented by ministers and senior government officials.