Joseph Isangura
As the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) worsens, President Félix Tshisekedi has chosen to engage with southern African leaders rather than attend an East African Community (EAC) summit aimed at addressing the crisis.
His absence from the emergency meeting, called by Kenyan President William Ruto in his role as EAC chair, signals a shift in diplomatic priorities for the Congolese leader.
The virtual EAC summit, held on Wednesday evening, was expected to focus on de-escalating the violence that has already reached the key city of Goma and is spreading westward toward Kinshasa. However, President Tshisekedi, through his spokesperson Tina Salama, cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for his absence.
This is not the first time he has distanced himself from EAC affairs. Last year, he skipped the regional bloc’s Heads of State Summit in Arusha without explanation. His latest decision raises further doubts about the DRC’s engagement with the EAC at a time when regional cooperation is crucial in handling the escalating security crisis.
Instead, Tshisekedi is set to attend an Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Harare, Zimbabwe, today. The meeting, chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will bring together leaders from the region, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who heads SADC’s security organ.
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Their focus will also be on the DRC conflict, particularly efforts to support peacekeeping missions in the war-torn region.
Tshisekedi’s preference for SADC over EAC-led initiatives reflects ongoing tensions over how best to handle the crisis. While the EAC has been involved in previous peace efforts, including deploying a regional military force, its effectiveness has been questioned, particularly by Kinshasa, which has voiced concerns about some neighboring countries’ involvement in the conflict.
With violence in eastern DRC showing no signs of easing and diplomatic strategies diverging, Tshisekedi’s choice to engage with SADC could redefine the approach to resolving the crisis.
