In their meeting as the East African Community and Southern African Development Community, the following was issued in dealing with the ongoing security situation in East Africa.
- The Joint Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the
East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) (hereinafter called Joint
Summit) met in Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of
Tanzania on 8th February 2025 in a cordial atmosphere to
deliberate on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (DRC). - The Joint Summit was Co-Chaired by His Excellency, Dr. William
Samoei Ruta, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya, and
Chairperson of the EAC and His Excellency Dr. Emmerson
Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
and Chairperson of SADC. - The Joint Summit was attended by the following Heads of State
and Government:
(i) His Excellency, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH, President
of the Republic of Kenya;
(ii) His Excellency, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
(iii) Her Excellency, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of
the United Republic of Tanzania;
(iv) His Excellency, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo,
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
(v) His Excellency, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of
the Republic of South Africa; and
(vi) His Excellency, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, President of
the Federal Republic of Somalia;
(vii) His Excellency, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic
of Rwanda;
(viii) His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the
Republic of Uganda;
(ix) His Excellency, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the
Republic of Zambia;
(x) His Excellency, Lieutenant General Gervais Ndirakobuca,
the Prime Minister, representing His Excellency Evariste
Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi;
(xi) His Excellency, Ambassador Tete Antonio, Minister of
External Relations, Republic of Angola representing H.E.
Joao Manuel Gonc;alves Lourenc;o President of the
Republic of Angola;
(xii) Honourable Nancy Gladys Tembo, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, representing H.E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy
Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi;
(xiii) Honourable Deng Alor Kuol, Minister of East African
Community Affairs, representing His Excellency, Salva
Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan;
(xiv) Honorable Lieutenant General Lala Monja Delphin
Sahivelo, Minister of the Armed Forces, representing H. E.
Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of
Madagascar. - The opening session of Joint Summit was attended by H.E.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union
Commission. - The Executive Secretary of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Elias
Magosi and the Secretary General of the EAC, Her Excellency
Veronica M. Nduva, CBS participated in the meeting. - The Joint Summit noted that both the EAC and SADC Summits
held on the 29th January 2025 and 31st January 2025
respectively, recognizing that they have both been involved in the
process of bringing lasting peace and security to the Eastern
DRC called for an immediate Joint Summit of SADC and
EAC to deliberate on the way forward regarding the deteriorating
security situation in the DRC. - The Joint Summit expressed concern about the deteriorating
security situation in Eastern DRC, which has resulted in the loss
of lives, creating a humanitarian crisis as well as the suffering of
people in particular women and children. - The Joint Summit also expressed condolences for the loss of
lives in the recent attacks and also wished a speedy recovery to
the injured. - The Joint Summit also expressed concern about the escalating
crisis manifesting in attacks on Diplomatic Missions, Embassies
and Staff based in Kinshasa and urged the Government of DRC
to protect lives and property as well as upholding long lasting
legal and moral principles of respecting peace missions in DRC
such as MONUSCO and the others. - The Joint Summit recollected that both the EAC and SADC
Summits had upon deliberating on the security situation in
Eastern DRC called for:
(a) cessation of hostilities and an immediate ceasefire;
(b) restoration of essential utilities and supply lines for food
and other essential commodities to ensure humanitarian
support; and
(c) peaceful resolution of the conflict through the Luanda/
Nairobi process. - The Joint Summit considered the report of the joint Meeting of
Ministers of EAC and SADC on the security situation in Eastern
DRC emphasized that political and diplomatic engagement
is the most sustainable solution to the conflict in the eastern DRC. - The Joint Summit directed the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense
Forces to meet within five (5) days and provide technical direction
on:
(a) immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of
hostilities;
(b) provIsIon of humanitarian assistance, including
repatriation of the deceased and evacuation of the injured;
(c) Develop a securitization plan for Gama and its surrounding
areas;
(d) opening of Main Supply Routes, including Goma-SakeBukavu;
Goma-Kibumba-Rumangabo-KalengeraRutshuru-
Bunagana; and · Gama- Kiwanja-RwindiKanyabayonga-
Lubero, including navigation on Lake Kivu
between Gama and Bukavu;
( e) immediate re-opening of Gama Airport, and
(f) advise on other related facilitative interventions. - The Joint Summit reaffirmed the critical role of both the Luanda
and Nairobi processes and directed that the two be merged into
a Luanda/Nairobi Process. The Joint Summit further resolved to
strengthen the two processes to enhance complementarity and
mandated the co-chairs, in consultation with the African Union,
to consider and appoint additional facilitators, including from
other regions of Africa to support the merged process. - The Joint Summit directed the resumption of direct negotiations and
dialogue with all state and non-state parties (military and nonmilitary)
including the M23 and under the framework of the
Luanda/Nairobi process. - The Joint Summit called for the implementation of the Concept of
Operations (CONOPS) of the harmonized plan for neutralization
of FDLR and the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive
measures/disengagement of forces from the DRC as agreed in
the Luanda process. - The Joint Summit directed that a Joint Meeting of Ministers of
EAC and SADC convene within thirty days to deliberate on:
(a) the Report of the Joint Meeting of CDFs on the ceasefire
and cessation of hostilities;
(b) establishment of secretariat-level technical coordination
mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Joint Summit
Decisions;
(c) an elaborate roadmap detailing immediate, medium, and
long-term implementation measures, including financing
modalities; and
(d) address all other residual issues relating to the attainment
of sustainable peace and security in eastern DRC and
make appropriate recommendations to the next Joint
meeting of the EAC-SADC Summit. - The Joint Summit directed that modalities for the withdrawal of
uninvited foreign armed forces from the territory of the DRC be
developed and implemented. - The Joint Summit reaffirmed solidarity and unwavering
commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of
safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial
integrity as well as sustainable peace, security and development. - The Joint Summit decided that similar consultations shall be
convened at least once every year and as and when the need arises
to review matters of common interest to the two regions. - The Joint Summit congratulated Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu
Hassan and the Government and People of the United Republic
of Tanzania for hosting the Summit. - The Joint Summit expressed gratitude to the Chairpersons of
EAC and SADC for successfully co-chairing the Joint Summit
and for their leadership towards the attainment of lasting peace
and security in the Eastern DRC and wider region. - The Joint Summit expressed its appreciation to the EAC and
SADC Secretariats for the preparatory work undertaken, - leading
to the Summit.
DONE at Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania on 8th February
2025 in English, French, and Portuguese languages, all texts being equally
authentic.
