South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has skipped an emergency joint meeting of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders on the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crisis, despite being in Dar es Salaam.
Instead, South Africa is represented by Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, raising questions about Pretoria’s commitment to the talks.
The high-level meeting, which kicked off in Tanzania on Friday, brings together regional leaders to discuss the escalating conflict in the eastern DRC. Rwandan President Paul Kagame is attending in person, while DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has joined virtually.
Ramaphosa’s absence is significant given South Africa’s role in regional peace efforts. As a key member of both SADC and the African Union, South Africa has deployed troops in the DRC under the SADC Mission in the country (SAMIDRC), tasked with stabilizing the volatile region.
The crisis in eastern DRC has worsened in recent months, with intense clashes between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group. Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, an allegation Kigali denies. The tensions have drawn in regional leaders, hoping to mediate and prevent further escalation.
With South Africa playing a major role in regional diplomacy, Ramaphosa’s decision to stay away from the meeting raises speculation about Pretoria’s priorities. Whether his absence will impact the outcome of the talks remains to be seen.
By Nairobi