VIDEO: President Kagame of Rwanda arrives at SADC and EAC Joint Summit in Dar es Salaam
What you need to know:
- Tshisekedi’s absence comes after his no-show at a recent virtual East African Community (EAC) summit, where regional leaders, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, pushed for face-to-face talks between Tshisekedi and other heads of state to resolve the situation in eastern DRC.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has arrived at Dar es Salaam’s State House for the high-profile SADC and EAC joint summit, which is set to address the escalating crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, one notable absence at the summit is the President of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, who has decided to skip the crucial discussions.
Instead, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa represents Tshisekedi at the summit, raising questions about his commitment to directly engaging in the resolution of the ongoing conflict.
Tshisekedi’s absence comes after his no-show at a recent virtual East African Community (EAC) summit, where regional leaders, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, pushed for face-to-face talks between Tshisekedi and other heads of state to resolve the situation in eastern DRC.
EAC leaders had emphasized the need for Tshisekedi to engage directly with armed groups like the M23 rebels in a bid to reach a peaceful political solution.
Despite repeated calls for dialogue, the Congolese government has refused to negotiate with M23, which it considers a terrorist organization allegedly backed by Rwanda.
As Kagame joins fellow leaders at the summit, all eyes are on the region’s ability to forge a path toward peace amid growing concerns over the DRC crisis.
