Kenyan President William Ruto revealed on Monday evening that he had held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron concerning the worsening crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Ruto said Mr Macron expressed backing for regional efforts to tackle the unrest, particularly as M23 rebels seized Goma, the North Kivu provincial capital, earlier that day.
The rebel occupation caused widespread alarm, with reports of Congolese forces launching missiles into Rwanda.
Rwanda Defence Forces claimed the shelling killed at least five civilians and injured many more, further inflaming tensions between the neighbouring nations.
Despite President Ruto announcing an extraordinary East African Community (EAC) heads of state summit within 48 hours, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi refused to attend.
Tina Salama, spokesperson for the Congolese presidency, cited security concerns for the decision.
“Given the current situation, the president cannot attend this summit,” Ms Salama told local media. She also questioned the EAC’s capacity to handle the crisis, advocating instead for the Luanda peace talks and African Union (AU) mediation.
President Ruto had earlier stated that he had consulted both President Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, receiving commitments from both to attend the summit.
However, the absence of the Congolese leader casts doubt on the regional bloc’s crisis management efforts.
Meanwhile, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met separately in Kampala with UK High Commissioner Lisa Chesney and US Ambassador William Popp, reportedly discussing the deteriorating situation in Eastern DR Congo.
The crisis worsened as M23 rebels celebrated their capture of Goma, parading through the city with civilians. Though the group claimed to have restored calm, the overall security in the region remains precarious.
President Ruto’s engagement with President Macron stirred mixed reactions, particularly as some West African nations like Burkina Faso and Mali have recently severed ties with France, accusing it of meddling in their affairs.
Nevertheless, President Ruto announced that President Macron had committed to supporting regional peace initiatives in Eastern DR Congo, alongside Kenya’s efforts in Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.
With EAC unity under strain and tensions rising, the global community is watching closely as the crisis continues to unfold.
