Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi has opted out of a high-level summit bringing together leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to address the worsening conflict in eastern DRC.
Instead, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa is representing the Congolese government at the meeting, which has drawn key regional heads of state, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
Tshisekedi’s absence follows his decision to skip a recent virtual EAC summit, where President Museveni had proposed direct negotiations between the DRC leader and other stakeholders, including representatives of the M23 rebel group.
The EAC has been urging Kinshasa to engage in dialogue with M23 in pursuit of a political resolution. However, Tshisekedi’s government maintains that the group is a terrorist organization backed by Rwanda, ruling out any talks with the rebels.
With M23 expanding its territorial control in eastern DRC—despite declaring a ceasefire—the situation remains highly volatile. The rebels have taken control of Goma and are reportedly advancing toward Bukavu.
Regional Reactions
Tshisekedi’s no-show could complicate diplomatic efforts, especially as regional leaders debate the role of external military forces in the conflict. South Africa has committed to reinforcing its troops in the DRC under the SAMIDRC peacekeeping mission, while Rwanda continues to oppose foreign military intervention.
“His absence suggests he is not fully convinced about the approach being taken,” a regional analyst observed. “By sending his prime minister, he is keeping a seat at the table but not actively leading the discussions.”
Ramaphosa has been advocating for the Luanda Process as the basis for peace talks, while Museveni continues to push for direct negotiations between Tshisekedi and M23—an idea Kinshasa has rejected outright.
With Kagame attending the summit, discussions are expected to be tense, particularly given Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the conflict.
Can the Summit Deliver Progress?
The absence of Tshisekedi raises doubts about whether the summit will yield a breakthrough. Any resolutions reached may lack immediate political backing from Kinshasa, limiting their effectiveness.
However, Prime Minister Suminwa’s participation signals that the DRC remains engaged in the talks, even if indirectly. Whether this engagement will lead to concrete steps toward de-escalation remains uncertain.
