Eastern DRC crisis: Mudavadi leads EAC Ministers in talks

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on on Saturday, March 15, 2025, led a consultative session with East African Community (EAC) Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs and Defence.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Mudavadi disclosed that the discussions centered on the security situation in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

"I chaired a consultative meeting with EAC Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, focusing on the security situation in Eastern DRC. Our deliberations underscored the urgency of a unified regional approach while reaffirming the critical role of strategic partnerships in fostering peace and stability," Mudavadi stated.

He also highlighted that the discussions emphasized the pressing need for a coordinated regional strategy, stressing the importance of strategic partnerships in promoting peace and stability.

Mudavadi further noted that the meeting delved into both diplomatic and operational strategies aimed at fostering long-term solutions.

"With a shared commitment to tackling emerging security threats, the meeting explored diplomatic and operational measures to support sustainable solutions," Mudavadi stated.

The session was also graced by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya alongside EAC Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul.

According to Mudavadi, the deliberations laid the groundwork for an upcoming joint ministerial session set to take place on March 17, 2025, in Harare, Zimbabwe.

"Hon. Soipan Tuya, CS EAC Beatrice Askul, and ministers from member states participated in this engagement, which paves the way for the joint ministerial session scheduled for March 17 in Harare," he shared on X.

Mudavadi emphasized that negotiation and dialogue remain crucial in resolving the ongoing crisis.

"I co-chaired the EAC-SADC Ministers’ Meeting on the conflict in eastern DRC, where our discussions centered on negotiation as a vital approach to ending the prolonged crisis," he wrote.

The high-level meeting raised alarm over the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and coordinated intervention.

"Beyond its devastating humanitarian impact, the conflict is escalating into wider threats, including the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, unchecked resource exploitation, and the erosion of state institutions," Mudavadi stated.

Since the end of 2024, the security and humanitarian conditions in South and North Kivu have worsened rapidly, with civilian casualties, mass displacement, and violations of International Humanitarian Law, official reports say.