President William Ruto has revealed the subject of discussions during the 24th extraordinary summit of heads of state of East African Community president held virtually on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
At the height of the ongoing violent clashes in Congo on Monday, January 27, 2025, Ruto, the current chair of the East African Community, called for a ceasefire and announced that the presidents of Congo and Rwanda would attend an emergency regional summit on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Ruto said it was incumbent on regional leaders to help facilitate a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Region’s chairman
The Kenyan head of state chaired the virtual regional meeting and was joined by six other heads of state from the region including Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Uganda), Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud (Somalia), Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and Mayardit, Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi).
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi was conspicuously missing.
According to a communication from the president, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the eastern DRC was discussed with the summit calling for the warring factions to cease hostilities and observe immediate ceasefire.
Engage rebels
A call to facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population was also discussed.
Concerns were also raised on the deteriorating security situation in the eastern DRC region that has resulted to loss of lives humanitarian crisis and suffering of people, particularly women and children.
Additionaly, Congo authorities were urged to engage all stakeholders including the M23 rebels and other armed groups that have grievances in a bid to stop the war.
Following the attacks in several diplomatic missions, embassies and staff based in Kinsasha, the DRC government was charged with guaranteeing the protection of the diplomatic missions, lives, and properties of the various staff there
As the chair, the Kenyan head of state was also tasked with engaging the South African Development Community (SADC) chairman and convening a joint EAC-SADC meeting to discuss further progress in resolving the conflict.
Tshisekedi skipping the meeting could see the implementation of the adopted resolution remaining in limbo.
Kenya’s concerns
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing’oei on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, expressed concern after a group of rebels invaded the Kenyan embassy.
The PS noted that the invasion of the secured premises was a breach of international laws.
“We are deeply concerned by the ongoing siege and attacks on Embassy Premises and personnel in Kinshasa, DRC, including the Kenyan, Uganda and South African Embassies, by marauding protesters who are voicing their discontent on the conflict in the Eastern Part of that country.
“This development is a serious breach of international law and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible. We call on authorities in DRC to take appropriate action. We implore Kenyan citizens and business people to exercise caution during this period,” the PS said in a statement.
