By Antynet
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi snubbed the East Africa Community head of state’s emergency summit to address the unrest in his country.
Tshisekedi who snubbed the meeting convened by Kenya’s President William Ruto confirmed attendance at a separate meeting convened by southern African countries, putting into doubt his commitment to the EAC bloc.
Through spokesperson Tina Salama, President Tshisekedi said he could not attend the virtual meeting due to a scheduling conflict.
The DRC leader, who has recently shown little interest in EAC matters, skipped the last Heads of State Summit in Arusha late last year without apology.
The DRC head of State is expected to attend today’s extraordinary summit of the SADC on the same matter in Zimbabwe. While it remains unclear whether the snub has left a foul smell among the EAC presidents, analysts had indicated it was going to take some doing for President Ruto to gather Tshisekedi and Kagame in one room virtual or not.
The EAC called for a joint summit with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is already in talks with the DRC.
Tshisekedi’s snub comes amid underlying conflicts among the various leaders with the DRC president being on record accusing Ruto of siding with Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
During the virtual meeting held yesterday, the EAC Heads of State called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern part of the DRC, as M23 rebels cement their control of Goma.
“The summit called on all parties to the conflict in Eastern DRC to cease hostilities and observe immediate and unconditional ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population,” A communique from the EAC virtual meeting stated in part.
“For peaceful settlement of the conflicts, and strongly urged the government of the DRC to engage directly with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups that have grievances,” the presidents demanded.
Present at the virtual meeting were Kenyan president and Current EAC Chairperson William Ruto, President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.