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EAC and SADC Leaders Reaffirm Support for DRC Amid M23 Rebel Crisis
EAC and SADC leaders reaffirm support for DRC amid M23 rebel crisis. Summit vows solidarity and continued efforts to restore peace in eastern Congo
The Special Summit of the Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held on 6 March 2025, via videoconference, reaffirmed the association’s continued support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following the capture of one of its cities by the M23 rebels.
The virtual summit was convened by Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania and Head of the SADC Political, Defence and Security Affairs Committee.
Also in attendance were Malawian President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.
Dr. Samia Suluhu said, “The SADC community must support the Congolese government and will do everything possible to support it. She reiterated SADC’s commitment to the people of the DRC in a spirit of unity and solidarity.”
The meeting also included South Africa, Congo, Malawi and Tanzania, which have lost many soldiers in the fight against M23.
The meeting also agreed to continue their role in restoring peace in eastern Congo.
There were reports that SADC plans to withdraw its troops after some of its troops gave up fighting against M23.
Since taking the city of Goma, the M23 group has captured more than 1,000 SADC soldiers who are being held in a military camp.
The group is demanding that the group withdraw its soldiers safely and stop the fighting.
