South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Thursday that regional African blocs are calling for an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking at a press conference after the 8th EU-South Africa Summit, Ramaphosa emphasized the need to consolidate peace as peacekeepers withdraw.
He stated that the process should serve as a confidence-building measure to strengthen the ceasefire in the conflict-ridden region.
“The situation is precarious, but peace is holding. We hope to consolidate it further as the withdrawal process moves forward,” Ramaphosa said alongside European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) officially ended its peacekeeping mandate in Congo on Thursday amid ongoing rebel activity in the east.
The withdrawal comes ahead of peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group, set to commence on March 18 in Luanda, Angola.
Ramaphosa clarified that the withdrawal would be phased, considering evolving conditions on the ground.
He called on the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union to support efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and restore stability in the region.
Von der Leyen echoed the importance of international cooperation, stressing the need to enhance security and defense financing.
“To address global instability and insecurity, we have decided to launch a dedicated EU-South Africa peace, security, and defense dialogue,” she said.
As tensions persist in the eastern DRC, regional and international actors continue to push for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
