DR Congo’s president Tshisekedi was not present at the virtual East African Community meeting, citing a scheduling conflict
The eight-country East African Community (EAC) held an emergency summit on Wednesday to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Goma, the city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a member state whose leader skipped the virtual meeting.
The organization’s extraordinary meeting was called by Kenyan President William Ruto, the current EAC chair, in response to intensified clashes in and around the city between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, however, failed to attend the summit. A presidential spokesperson cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for his absence.
The summit proceeded with the participation of other regional leaders, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who’s nation shares a border with DRC. Discussions focused on finding solutions to the escalating conflict in Goma, a city on the border and the capital of the country’s North Kivu Province, which has led to significant civilian displacement and heightened regional tensions.
DRC has been plagued by decades of violence, particularly in the east, as dozens of armed groups, including M23, fight local authorities for resources. The hinterland territories of the regions are rich in minerals such as gold, cassiterite, coltan, diamonds, tourmaline, pyrochlore, and wolfram. During the latest escalation, M23 militants seized control of more territory than ever before, prompting the UN to warn of the risk of a broader regional conflict.
The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim that Rwanda denies.
In the days leading up to the extraordinary summit, the EAC’s 24th, intense fighting in Goma resulted in at least 42 fatalities, including 17 foreign peacekeepers, and has left hundreds injured.
The EAC summit aimed to address these urgent matters but President Tshisekedi’s absence was notable, especially given their direct impact on his country.
As well as DRC, the EAC incorporates Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. First established in 1967, it was reestablished in 2000 and its primary goal is to promote regional economic integration.
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