The presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda will attend a crisis summit on Wednesday, Kenyan President William Ruto has announced.
The summit comes amid escalating tensions, with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group advancing into the Congolese city of Goma.
On Friday, violent clashes erupted in Sake, a town about 20 kilometres from Goma, between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group, a military source told AFP.
The situation deteriorated following failed peace talks, with M23 fighters allegedly backed by Rwandan forces gaining more territory in recent weeks. The crisis has created a humanitarian crisis and threatens Goma, a city of about two million residents.
Kenya currently holds the chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC), an eight-member regional bloc that includes both Rwanda and the DRC.
Ruto, who had earlier indicated that a meeting was being planned as part of the EAC’s efforts to mediate peace between the two sides, has now confirmed that it will take place on Wednesday.
“I have spoken with President Paul Kagame and President Felix Tshisekedi, and both have agreed to attend the summit on Wednesday,” Ruto said during a press briefing on Monday.
“We do not see, from where I sit, a possibility of a military solution to the challenges that face Eastern DRC,” he said.
“A direct engagement with M23 and all the other stakeholders in the theatre in eastern DRC is a necessity,” Ruto said, referring to the Rwanda-backed armed group.
On Sunday, the United Nations (UN) suspended its World Food Programme (WFP) operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to security concerns as the ongoing conflict in the country’s volatile east worsened.
WFP Executive Director, Cincy Mccain, in a statement on Sunday, said about 800,000 persons have been affected by the crisis.
“Escalating violence in eastern DRC has forced WFP to temporarily pause critical emergency operations, leaving 800k people without lifesaving assistance. Our team’s safety is paramount,” She in a post on X.
“We call for peace, protection of humanitarian workers & safe access to those in need of aid,” Mccain added.
As violence escalates, thousands of civilians have fled to Goma’s city centre on foot in search of safety.
The M23 rebel group, known as the March 23 Movement, previously occupied Goma in 2012 before being driven out by the Congolese army with support from MONUSCO and international diplomatic pressure on Rwanda.
However, recent diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have made little progress.
