Senior officials from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have convened in Harare ahead of the Joint EAC-SADC Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled for March 17, 2025.
The discussions are centered on reinforcing regional efforts to restore peace and stability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The preparatory session is co-chaired by Ambassador A.R. Chimbindi, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Chairperson of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials, alongside Brig. Edward Rugendo, Chief of Operations for the Kenya Defence Forces and Chair of the EAC Coordinating Committee.
According to Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, the meeting builds upon a consultative session recently held in Nairobi, hosted by Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. That engagement saw EAC Foreign and Defence Ministers exchange views on the security crisis in eastern DRC, culminating in the endorsement of recommendations from the Chiefs of Defense Forces/Staff meeting in Dar es Salaam on March 24, 2025.
These recommendations focus on securing a ceasefire, ensuring humanitarian access, and advancing political dialogue under the merged Luanda/Nairobi process.
Mudavadi reiterated the significance of regional unity in tackling security threats, stressing that “our discussions underscored the urgent need for a unified regional approach, reinforcing the role of strategic partnerships in advancing peace and stability.”
Ministers in attendance included Kenya’s Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Tuya and EAC Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul, along with their counterparts from member states.
The deliberations in Harare are expected to set the stage for decisive interventions in the ongoing crisis, as both regional blocs align diplomatic and operational strategies to foster lasting peace in eastern DRC.
The Joint EAC-SADC Ministerial Meeting tomorrow March 17 will review recommendations from senior officials and Chiefs of Defense Forces/Staff. A key focus will be on the framework for a political settlement, to be facilitated by a panel of former African Heads of State and Government.
With growing concerns over instability in the region, the outcome of this high-level engagement could play a crucial role in shaping future peace initiatives in the DRC.
