President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo will attend a high-stakes regional summit starting on Friday to address the ongoing crisis in the eastern part of the country.
The summit, taking place in Tanzania, will bring together leaders from Eastern and Southern Africa to discuss the escalating conflict, exacerbated by Rwandan-backed rebels seizing more territory.
For the first time, Tshisekedi may sit face-to-face with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who is accused by Congo, the United Nations, and Western partners of supporting the rebels. However, Rwanda has vehemently denied these allegations.
The United Nations has raised alarms, stating that the situation in eastern Congo has reached a “pivotal moment” and could threaten the entire region’s stability. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties to seek peace and avoid further escalation.
In recent days, rebel forces captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, and pushed deeper into South Kivu. The rebels’ advance towards Bukavu has sparked widespread panic in the region, with local authorities suspending academic activities and residents fleeing for safety.
The rebels have also begun administering areas they control, organizing rallies in Goma and appointing new local leaders. As the situation intensifies, healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, and essential services are nearly non-existent.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 2,800 people have died in Goma alone. In response, Congo plans to bring a motion before the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate alleged mass violations in the city.
World leaders, including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, are expected to attend the summit, which runs from February 7-8.
