East African and Southern African Leaders Convene to Address Escalating Security Crisis in Eastern DRC

On March 24, 2025, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda joined prominent leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in a virtual summit aimed at addressing the worsening security situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting was characterized by a warm and cooperative spirit and underscored the urgency of regional collaboration to restore stability in this conflict-ridden region.

The Joint Summit of EAC and SADC Heads of State and Government was co-chaired by H.E. William Ruto, President of Kenya and Chairperson of the EAC, and H.E. Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of SADC. The leaders focused on reviewing and advancing previous commitments while charting a clear path forward to address the ongoing crisis.

During the discussions, the summit recalled key decisions from prior high-level meetings, including the 1st Joint EAC-SADC Summit held on February 8, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which emphasized the need for unified action in Eastern DRC. The leaders also referenced the resolutions from the 1261st African Union Peace and Security Council meeting on February 14, 2025, as well as UN Security Council Resolution 2773, adopted on February 21, 2025. These resolutions collectively highlighted the critical need for coordinated efforts to stop the deteriorating security situation in the region, where armed groups, resource conflicts, and displacement continue to destabilize communities.

A significant outcome of the summit was the adoption of a comprehensive report resulting from the joint EAC-SADC Ministerial meeting held on March 17, 2025, in Harare, Zimbabwe. This report included insights from a parallel meeting of Chiefs of Defence and provided a detailed roadmap outlining immediate, medium, and long-term measures necessary to achieve sustainable peace and security in Eastern DRC. The leaders endorsed this roadmap and directed its immediate implementation, signaling a proactive step toward tangible progress.

In a statement following the summit, the Heads of State expressed gratitude to the EAC and SADC Secretariats for their diligent preparatory work, which contributed to the meeting’s success. The collaborative efforts of these regional bodies have been instrumental in laying the groundwork for the summit and fostering dialogue among member states.

The Eastern DRC has long been plagued by violence fueled by militia groups, competition over natural resources, and cross-border tensions. This latest summit reflects a renewed commitment from EAC and SADC leaders to work together, leveraging their collective influence and resources to bring about lasting peace. As the implementation of the roadmap begins, the international community will closely monitor the impact of these regional initiatives on one of Africa’s most pressing security challenges.