African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki left a critical East African summit in Tanzania after organizers asked him to exit a closed-door session, creating diplomatic tension at the high-level meeting on DR Congo's crisis.
The incident unfolded in Dar es Salaam after the opening speeches by Kenya's President William Ruto and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa, who lead the East African Community and Southern African Development Community. A Master of Ceremonies instructed Faki to leave before private talks began.
"The Chairperson was asked to leave the room by the MC, and he left," reported Kenyan Foreign Policy journalist Mwangi Maina, citing a senior diplomatic source. The source noted unclear origins of the instruction to remove Faki.
Summit organizers attempted to rectify the situation by inviting Faki back, but he declined. His initial invitation stemmed from his role as AU Commission Chair and guarantor of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes. He had participated in opening ceremonies and appeared in official photos with regional leaders.
The summit drew several prominent attendees, including Rwanda's Paul Kagame and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi joined virtually, represented on-site by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola attended, with President Cyril Ramaphosa expected to arrive later.
Burundi's President Évariste Ndayishimiye, despite having troops involved in DR Congo, opted to travel to the United States for a prayer breakfast instead of attending the summit.
The meeting focused on addressing the renewed conflict in eastern DR Congo, marked by M23 rebel activity and tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Faki's departure raised concerns about the African Union's mediating role and potential impacts on regional peace efforts.
The incident unfolded in Dar es Salaam after the opening speeches by Kenya's President William Ruto and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa, who lead the East African Community and Southern African Development Community. A Master of Ceremonies instructed Faki to leave before private talks began.
"The Chairperson was asked to leave the room by the MC, and he left," reported Kenyan Foreign Policy journalist Mwangi Maina, citing a senior diplomatic source. The source noted unclear origins of the instruction to remove Faki.
Summit organizers attempted to rectify the situation by inviting Faki back, but he declined. His initial invitation stemmed from his role as AU Commission Chair and guarantor of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes. He had participated in opening ceremonies and appeared in official photos with regional leaders.
The summit drew several prominent attendees, including Rwanda's Paul Kagame and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi joined virtually, represented on-site by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola attended, with President Cyril Ramaphosa expected to arrive later.
Burundi's President Évariste Ndayishimiye, despite having troops involved in DR Congo, opted to travel to the United States for a prayer breakfast instead of attending the summit.
The meeting focused on addressing the renewed conflict in eastern DR Congo, marked by M23 rebel activity and tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Faki's departure raised concerns about the African Union's mediating role and potential impacts on regional peace efforts.
