Synopsis
On February 1, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) emphasized the need for dialogue to restore peace and security in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo amid escalating violence and humanitarian crises.Key Takeaways
- SADC calls for dialogue among all parties.
- Security situation in DRC is deteriorating.
- M23 armed group attacks SADC Mission troops.
- Essential services must be restored immediately.
- International community urged to provide humanitarian aid.
Seoul, Feb 1 (NationPress) The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged for dialogue among all involved parties to restore peace and security in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The bloc conveyed its apprehension regarding the escalating attacks that have exacerbated the security and humanitarian situation in the DRC, as stated in a communique released following the SADC Heads of State and Government summit that took place in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, on Friday.
It denounced the assaults against SADC Mission troops in the DRC by the M23, an armed faction active in eastern DRC, indicating that such actions breach the ceasefire established through the Luanda Process on July 30, 2024, and jeopardize both peace and security in the DRC and the wider SADC region, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
The regional organization called for the immediate restoration of vital services like water, electricity, communication channels, and supply lines for food and other critical supplies in the conflict-affected area.
In his concluding remarks, SADC Chairperson and President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, advocated for enduring peace in the DRC and urged all conflict parties to adopt dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution methods.
“It is the collective and individual responsibility of all member states to enhance efforts towards permanently silencing the weapons if we are to realize these goals,” Mnangagwa stated.
He called on the international community to increase humanitarian support for the affected populace and strengthen ongoing peace and security initiatives in eastern DRC.
While calm is reportedly being restored in Goma, a vital city in eastern DRC, the likelihood of disease outbreaks, including cholera and Mpox, is rising on the peripheries, as indicated by United Nations officials.
“In Goma, the situation remains tense and unstable, with sporadic gunfire still occurring within the city; however, I can say that overall, calm has been slowly reestablished,” remarked Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix during a press briefing on Friday.
“Water and electricity have been reinstated in much of the city, but we still face the challenge of unexploded ordnance, which poses a serious barrier to freedom of movement,” he added.
The city's airport runways were severely damaged during the recent clashes and are currently non-operational, preventing aid flights, as only the roads leading to neighboring Rwanda remain accessible, while domestic routes are closed.
