East African Leaders Meet In Egypt Over DR Congo Crisis

President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi and chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) gathered regional leaders in Egypt on Monday night to discuss the rising insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Presidents Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, William Ruto of Kenya and DR Congo Prime Minister Sama Lukonde attended the meeting on the sidelines of the COP27 summit.

The resolutions of the meeting are yet to be announced.

On Monday a Congolese fighter jet flew into Rwandan skies before it returned to Goma in eastern DR Congo as tensions continue to rise between the neighbours. Kigali called it a “provocation”.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the M23 rebels that now control a big area of Rutshuru territory in North Kivu province. Rwanda has continuously denied the allegations.

Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya have sent army contingents in eastern DR Congo to combat armed groups that have kept the region volatile for nearly three decades.