The East African Community (EAC) heads of state have called on President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to engage in discussions with all parties involved in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. This includes Rwanda and the M23 armed group, as part of efforts to resolve the escalating situation in the region.

East African Community (EAC) heads of state have urged Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi to engage in discussions with all parties involved in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, including Rwanda and the M23 armed group. On Wednesday, January 29, the EAC leaders convened for an extraordinary summit to address the escalating conflict in the region. The meeting, which was held virtually, was presided over by Kenya's President William Ruto, who chairs the EAC bloc.

The summit included the participation of several heads of state, including Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, and Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.

Despite being a member of the EAC, DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi did not attend the summit. President Ruto had confirmed earlier that Tshisekedi would participate, but the Congolese leader later addressed the nation, emphasizing that DRC would not allow itself to be humiliated or defeated. He stated that a "relentless effort" was underway against the M23 rebels and their supporters, aiming to reclaim every part of DRC's territory. Tshisekedi also directed the government to allocate more financial resources to support the Congolese army and encouraged young people to join the military. He emphasized that victory over M23 would be achieved through "unity, courage, and a sense of responsibility."

Tshisekedi also criticized the international community and the African Union for their "passive" response to the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC. His comments came shortly after the EAC heads of state's virtual summit.

In their statement, the EAC leaders called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and strongly urged the DRC government to engage directly with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups with grievances. They also called for a ceasefire and the facilitation of humanitarian access to those affected by the conflict.

In addition, the EAC heads of state resolved to hold a joint summit with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the coming days to discuss the next steps. Angola, a member of SADC, has attempted, without success, to mediate between Presidents Tshisekedi of DRC and Kagame of Rwanda. Tshisekedi has firmly rejected the idea of negotiating with the M23, while Kagame has called for dialogue with the group to find a long-term solution to the conflict in eastern DRC.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, with reports indicating that Rwanda may have up to 4,000 soldiers in the eastern DRC. Rwanda has denied these allegations. Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have made significant advances into the South Kivu province, having already captured many areas in Goma and Sake in North Kivu. Their recent advance has led to the deaths of at least 25 people and injuries to over 370 others.

Eastern DRC is known for its rich mineral resources, including gold, copper, cobalt, diamonds, tin, tantalum, and lithium, making the region highly contested and strategically important.