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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24916, member: 2262"] African Leaders Unite to Broker Peace in Eastern Congo. Regional leaders from East and Southern Africa met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 8 to address escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe co-chaired the historic joint summit between the East African Community and Southern African Development Community. The summit brought together fourteen heads of state and senior representatives, including DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat. Leaders expressed deep concern over deteriorating security conditions in eastern Congo, citing humanitarian crises and civilian casualties. The gathering ordered military chiefs from both regions to meet within five days to plan an immediate ceasefire and restore essential services. Their mandate includes securing Goma and surrounding areas, reopening supply routes, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches affected populations. The summit merged two existing peace initiatives - the Luanda and Nairobi processes - into a single framework. This combined approach aims to strengthen peace efforts through direct negotiations with all parties, including the M23 rebel group. Leaders authorized the appointment of additional facilitators from other African regions to support the peace process. Ministers from both regional blocs received instructions to convene within 30 days. Their agenda includes reviewing ceasefire progress, establishing monitoring mechanisms, and developing a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable peace. The plan encompasses immediate actions and long-term strategies, including financing arrangements. The assembled leaders demanded the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from Congo's territory. They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Congo's sovereignty and supporting its pursuit of peace and development. The summit established annual consultations between the two regional bodies to address shared concerns. Host President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania was praised for facilitating the historic meeting. Leaders commended the preparatory work of regional secretariats for enabling substantive discussions on Congo's future stability. [/QUOTE]

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