Tshisekedi, Kagame and 3 African leaders hold closed-Door AU mini-summit on eastern DRC security

The mini-summit addressing the security situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo commenced on Friday, led by Angolan President Joao Lourenço in the Julius Nyerere room of the African Union. The gathering, aimed at revitalizing peace efforts, witnessed the presence of five heads of state, including organizers Joao Lourenco, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi of the DRC, William Ruto of Kenya, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

Angolan President Joao Lourenço, serving as the African Union-appointed mediator between the DRC and Rwanda, expressed the urgency of the initiative to rekindle the peace process.

DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi

He highlighted the setbacks faced due to the escalation of conflict, resulting in dire humanitarian and economic consequences for the Congolese population.

The closed-door discussions following the opening remarks are expected to include statements from each participating head of state, beginning with President Félix Tshisekedi. A final communiqué is anticipated to encapsulate the outcomes of the mini-summit.

The timing of this mini-summit coincides with the 37th ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, scheduled for February 17 and 18, 2024, in Addis Ababa. The overarching theme of the conference, “Educating an Africa adapted to the 21st century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa,” underscores the broader regional agenda.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame

Significantly, this marks President Félix Tshisekedi’s first diplomatic trip since securing re-election for a second term. The mini-summit unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing conflict between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Wazalendo, and the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan army, particularly in the vicinity of Sake, Masisi territory in the Northern province of Kivu. The deliberations at the mini-summit aim to address and mitigate the pressing security challenges faced in the region.