Regional leaders have gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe, for a high-stakes discussion on resolving the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Friday touched down for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Summit talks, which come in the wake of escalating tensions and the recent killing of 13 South African soldiers by rebels, who went on to seize the city of Goma.
Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, has accused Ramaphosa of misrepresenting the situation in the DRC.
Kagame has also said Rwanda is ready for a military confrontation with South Africa, which he accused of being part of a “belligerent force” carrying out “offensive combat operations” on the side of the Congo government.
But Ramaphosa has opted for the path of peace, saying the fact that SA has put boots on the ground in DRC does not mean this is a “declaration of war against any country or state”.
Rwanda stands accused of backing the M23 rebels who have occupied Goma after expelling European mercenaries via Rwanda.
In the meantime, Botswana’s president, Duma Boko, also arrived for the talks in Harare on Friday.
The diplomatic process will be led by Zimbabwe’s head of state, president Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current chairperson of the SADC.
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