Tshisekedi to Attend Summit on Escalating Congo Conflict

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi will attend a summit in Tanzania this week to discuss the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed rebels have captured more territory. The regional summit, starting on Friday, will bring together leaders from Eastern and Southern Africa, including Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim that Rwanda denies.

The two-day summit, taking place in Dar es Salaam, comes as the situation in the region worsens. The United Nations has warned that the conflict risks spreading throughout the entire region. Rebels recently took control of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, and another mining town in South Kivu, pushing toward Bukavu despite a ceasefire they had declared.

As rebels advanced toward Bukavu on Thursday, panic spread throughout nearby towns. The Catholic university in Bukavu suspended classes, and in Goma, the rebels held a gathering to present new administrators and encourage residents to return to normal life.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that Goma’s healthcare system is overwhelmed, and essential services, including schools, water, and electricity, are severely limited. The UN’s humanitarian office reported at least 2,800 deaths in Goma due to the violence.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud are also expected to attend the summit on February 7-8.