Leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened virtually on March 24, 2025, to tackle the worsening security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The summit, co-chaired by Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, focused on urgent measures to restore peace in the region.
Following a ministerial meeting held in Harare on March 17, 2025, the summit adopted a detailed roadmap outlining immediate, medium-, and long-term strategies to curb violence and establish lasting security in eastern DRC. Leaders instructed that implementation should commence without delay.
To support diplomatic efforts, a panel of high-profile figures was appointed. The panel includes former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba Panza, and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde. These facilitators will oversee negotiations and peacebuilding efforts.
The EAC and SADC secretariats were tasked with informing the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) about the summit’s resolutions. Additionally, the co-chairs were directed to organize a briefing with the facilitators within a week to align regional and international efforts.
The summit concluded with an acknowledgment of the contributions made by the EAC and SADC secretariats in organizing the discussions.
