President William Ruto, chair of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit, has called for an emergency meeting to address the escalating war in eastern Congo.

This coming on the back of worsening humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma.

On Monday the M23 rebels got hold of Goma, one of the largest town in Eastern Congo.

“I call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, emphasise the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations and urge both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve this tragic conflict," said Ruto.

Ruto stressed the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations and urged both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve this tragic conflict.

 "These alarming developments, coupled with rising diplomatic tensions in the region, underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that continues to inflict untold suffering on the people, particularly women and children," he said.

Gunfire continued to be heard near the airport, the city centre and border with Rwanda, with residents reporting ongoing clashes between government-aligned militia and M23 fighters.

“”Having consulted with the heads of state of the region, on this dire situation, we will be convening an extraordinary EAC Summit within the next 48 hours to deliberate on this crisis and chart a way forward,” the head of state said.

This is in line with the EAC Summit’s decision of November 2024, which called for constructive engagement to address the conflict.

Congolese and Rwandan armies have been firing at each other across their shared border in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, where Rwandan-backed rebels launched an offensive, two United Nations sources told Reuters on Monday.

As chair of the EAC, I call on the parties to the Luanda process and my brothers, President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, both of whom I have spoken to this evening, to heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community.

After consulting the Heads of State of EAC Member States, we will convene an Extraordinary Summit in the next 48 hours to chart the way forward.

The EAC stands ready to forge stronger collaboration with the African Union, Southern African Development Community and the international community in encouraging the warring parties to give priority to dialogue.

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