Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East Africa Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo has chaired an extraordinary summit of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on March 05, 2025, to discuss the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The meeting, which was held virtually, was called for the preparation of today’s Extra-Ordinary Organ Troika Summit. The high-level meeting will bring together leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), SADC member states contributing troops to the DRC, and the SADC Organ Troika to discuss the escalating crisis.

READ: African-Led Process on DR Congo Crisis: Slow by Design or Lacking Levers to Deliver?

Before the ministerial summit, a meeting of the Permanent Secretaries of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation was held for the preparation of the agenda, which was adopted by the ministerial meeting. This development follows a Joint Chief of Defense Forces of the EAC-SADC on February 24, 2025, and a subsequent ministerial meeting on February 28, 2025.

Since the last SADC and EAC-SADC summits, the security situation in the DRC has worsened, with M23 rebels advancing from Goma, where they had appointed a new administration, to Bukavu, and also have appointed a new administration. In response, the DRC government has intensified diplomatic efforts, reaching out to allies such as the United States and European nations, leveraging its mineral resources to seek security guarantees.

Meanwhile, Rwanda has faced sanctions from the United States, Germany, and Canada over its support for M23 rebels. The United Nations has also called on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the DRC.

Rwanda has criticized the sanctions, calling them an interference in the African-led solution to the crisis. However, tangible solutions or mitigation measures from this African-led approach have yet to be seen.