RAPULA MOATSHE
IN A high-stakes summit at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on Saturday, African leaders urged for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-ridden eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The urgent appeal by the joint Southern Africa Development Community-East Africa Community meeting comes amidst escalating violence and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the region.
The leaders emphasised the need for "political and diplomatic engagement" to resolve the conflict, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced multitudes of people.
Aimed to address the crisis and find a sustainable solution in the DRC, the summit was attended by heads of state who included Kenyan President William Ruto and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Kagame attended in person while the Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi joined the meeting virtually.
Ruto, the current chair of the East African Community (EAC), called on all parties to actualise the ceasefire and for the M23 to halt further advancement and the armed forces of DRC to cease all retaliatory measures.
“We find ourselves standing face to face with a grave and protracted security, diplomatic and humanitarian crisis in DRC - a situation that demands our immediate collective and sustained attention," he said.
He said the east region of DRC has been engulfed in a devastating conflict for over two decades, claiming thousands of lives and displacing countless civilians.
The leaders directed the chiefs of defence forces from the Eastern and Southern African regions to meet within five days to provide technical guidance on implementing an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire.
According to the latest UN figures, approximately 2,900 people have lost their lives since early January due to the clashes between the M23 rebel group and the armed forces of the DRC.
The M23's resurgence in 2021 has led to a series of failed peace talks, hosted by Angola and Kenya, and the collapse of multiple ceasefires.
Despite Rwanda's denial of military support for the M23, the rebel group's advances have raised concerns about the region's stability.
The M23 rebel group has made swift gains in the eastern DRC, seizing large areas of territory rich in minerals.
The call for peace comes amid the recent escalated fighting in the eastern DRC, which has resulted in the loss of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers, who were part of a peacekeeping mission.
The long-awaited repatriation of the fallen soldiers' bodies is expected to take place this week.
Last week, General Rudzani Maphwanyahe promised that the bodies would be repatriated on February 5, but that never materialised.
The promise was made during a Parliamentary briefing on February 5, where General Maphwanyahe addressed the deaths and injuries of SA soldiers in the conflict against M23 rebels.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the bodies of thge soldiers will be repatriated to South Africa once all necessary procedures have been finalised in Entebbe, Uganda.
This was despite concerns raised that the bodies of the departed soldiers might be in a decomposed state, making it difficult for family members to view them.
Dlamini said: “The mortal remains of the South African National Defence Force soldiers arrived in Entebbe, Uganda. The standard pathology procedure will commence today. It is anticipated that all necessary procedures will be completed by no later than Tuesday, 11 February 2025. Further updates will be duly communicated.”
Deputy President Paul Mashatile hailed the soldiers as heroes, urging the nation to honour them for their selflessness and for sacrificing “their lives for peace”.