DRC war: SADC technocrats hold closed-door meeting in Dar

Dar es Salaam. Permanent Secretaries from Foreign Affairs ministries of 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have convened in Dar es Salaam to deliberate on ways to end the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Tanzania is chairing the meeting in its capacity as the chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security. 

The two-day high-level meeting, which concludes on Wednesday, seeks to assess the security situation in eastern DRC and explore possible solutions to the ongoing conflict.

“This is the third meeting of the SADC Inter-State, Politics and Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC)… The outcome of this committee will be presented at the ministerial meeting,” said Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Samuel Shelukindo.

He said although several other issues will be discussed, the crisis in eastern DRC remains the main agenda item. “Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will conclude this meeting and provide the outcome,” he added.

The meeting follows the recent joint summit of SADC and East African Community (EAC) heads of state, held in Dar es Salaam and concluded on February 8, 2025. The leaders at the summit called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC and urged all parties involved in the conflict to commit to peace efforts.

Also read:  Children face lethal violence, rape in east Congo war

In a communique released after the EAC-SADC Joint Summit, the leaders demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, restoration of essential services and the facilitation of humanitarian aid to affected communities. 

The summit also directed EAC and SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces to meet within five days to devise technical measures for enforcing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

Additionally, the regional ministers were tasked with convening within 30 days to assess progress on the ceasefire and security measures, establish a technical coordination mechanism, and develop financing strategies for long-term peace efforts.

However, the ongoing meeting of technocrats comes at a time when the situation in eastern DRC continues to deteriorate. Despite the February 8 heads of state summit, M23 rebels have continued their offensive, capturing the strategic city of Bukavu, the second major city to fall after Goma.

Also read: EAC-SADC Summit calls for immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC

Reports indicate that hundreds of Congolese police officers have defected to the M23 rebels and are undergoing retraining under the authority of the Rwandan-backed group. 

The fall of Bukavu, one of eastern DRC’s largest cities, has raised fears of a broader conflict in the region and increased concerns over regional security.

Last week, East African defence chiefs met in Nairobi to analyse the situation. However, an internal report from the meeting indicated that there was still “no clear picture of the situation on the ground.” The report also highlighted the need for direct engagement among all parties involved in the conflict, reinforcing one of the key resolutions from the joint heads of state summit.

Diplomatic experts believe that the SADC Organ meeting must produce tangible solutions beyond statements of intent. Regional diplomacy expert, Mr Emmanuel Mwamba, told The Citizen that this meeting presents a crucial opportunity for SADC to demonstrate its leadership in conflict resolution.

“SADC has the military and diplomatic strength to intervene decisively, but the region needs a coordinated approach with the EAC to avoid overlapping efforts,” Mr Mwamba noted.

Another diplomat, Dr Alice Mushi, stressed the importance of enforcement mechanisms. 

“We have seen too many resolutions that don’t translate into action. The Organ must push for stronger monitoring and accountability to ensure that agreed-upon measures are implemented on the ground,” she said.