Kenya President and EAC chairman William Ruto has convened an extraordinary summit “in the next 48 hours” to chart the way forward over the fighting in Eastern DRC.
Through a recorded statement released on Sunday night, President Ruto said the escalating deteriorating peace and security situation in the DRC was of grave concern.
“The humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma. I call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, emphasise the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations and urge both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve this tragic conflict,” Ruto said, amid reports of gunshots in Goma.
As chair of the EAC, President Ruto said he was calling on the parties to the Luanda process, President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, to heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community.
Ruto said he had spoken to the two leaders on Sunday evening and they had confirmed participation in the summit.
“After consulting the Heads of State of EAC Member States, we will convene an Extraordinary Summit in the next 48 hours to chart the way forward.
“The EAC stands ready to forge stronger collaboration with the African Union, Southern African Development Community and the international community in encouraging the warring parties to give priority to dialogue,” Ruto said.
He added that the AU must not remain passive as the crisis escalates,
