The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will convene an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in a virtual format on 13 March to address the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the SADC Secretariat on Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current SADC chairperson, would preside over the summit.
The summit is expected to receive updates on the latest developments in the DRC and deliberate on recommendations from the Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit held on March 6.
The upcoming meeting will be used to chart a collective course of action to address the ongoing crisis.
The SADC summit serves as the highest decision-making body of the regional bloc, tasked with setting policy direction and overseeing the implementation of its objectives.
The DRC has faced protracted security challenges, including armed conflicts in the eastern regions involving various rebel groups, such as the M23 militia.
These groups have caused widespread instability, displacing millions of civilians and disrupting regional trade and development.
Despite interventions by international forces, the situation remains volatile, prompting SADC member states to intensify regional efforts to restore peace and stability.
