Yesterday afternoon, Zambia participated in an extraordinary virtual summit of Heads of State and Government, jointly convened by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The summit focused on strengthening collective efforts to end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The summit was co-chaired by President William Ruto of Kenya and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe. During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, former President of Botswana, was appointed as one of five facilitators to guide the peace process in the region.
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia welcomed the unity shown by African leaders. He highlighted the importance of Africans working together to find African solutions. Bringing the Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives under the leadership of the African Union Commission marks a significant step toward a unified approach and the hope for lasting peace in eastern DRC.
President Hichilema emphasized that conflict anywhere threatens peace everywhere, making it a shared responsibility to work toward stability across the continent. He underlined that peace and security are essential for sustainable development and that with peace, Africa can achieve greater progress.
The summit reflects a commitment by EAC and SADC member states to prioritize dialogue, mediation, and regional cooperation to end the conflict in eastern DRC, ensuring that development and security advance together across the continent.