New hope for lasting peace in DRC

By Thapelo Molefe

President Cyril Ramaphosa is optimistic about the outcomes of  a summit in Tanzania over the weekend which discussed how to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a major breakthrough for peace efforts in the eastern DRC, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed to resume direct negotiations between all state and non-state actors, including the M23 rebel group. 

This unprecedented diplomatic move marks a critical step toward resolving the long-standing conflict that has plagued the region for decades.

In his weekly letter on Monday, Ramaphosa said the summit provided a beacon of hope for the troubled eastern DRC.

“As South Africa, we have steadfastly maintained that diplomacy is the most sustainable solution to this conflict,” he said.

The conflict in the eastern DRC has escalated in recent months, with the M23 rebel group gaining control over key