Zambia has concluded a three-day emergency meeting convened by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Livingstone, aimed at addressing the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The high-level meeting brought together defence ministers and military chiefs from ICGLR member states, including Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The DRC currently holds the chairmanship of the regional bloc.
The talks come amid renewed fighting in South Kivu province, after the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group briefly captured the strategic city of Uvira before withdrawing days later, reportedly following pressure from the United States. The M23 advance occurred less than a week after a US-brokered peace agreement signed on December 4, raising serious doubts about the deal’s durability.
The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of responsibility for the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians since early December, describing the violence as a “clear act of aggression” and a “serious and repeated violation of international law.” Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting the M23.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The United Nations estimates that approximately 500,000 people have been displaced in South Kivu during the latest surge in fighting, with tens of thousands fleeing across the border into Burundi.
Zambian political commentator Musaba Chailunga told DW that previous peace initiatives have failed partly because some international actors benefit strategically or economically from instability in eastern Congo.
“Past efforts have been undermined by conflicting interests,” Chailunga said, adding, “But that doesn’t mean meetings like this should not take place. Congo is very close to Zambia, and Congo is significant not only for the region but for the whole continent.”
Addressing the meeting, Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango urged defence leaders to pursue solutions that have eluded the region for decades.
“The suffering of civilians in eastern DRC is not confined to one nation,” Nalumango said. “It affects the stability of the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, and it demands urgent and collective action.”
In a statement to the media, DRC Defence Minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita said the Livingstone meeting demonstrated a “shared commitment to strengthening the regional response to security and humanitarian challenges.” He noted that discussions also focused on implementing commitments made under the Washington and Doha agreements.
Muadiamvita stressed that lasting peace in the Great Lakes Region would require collective responsibility, sincere cooperation and sustained commitment to common security goals.
Despite US President Donald Trump describing the December peace agreement as a “miracle,” both Rwanda and the DRC have accused each other of undermining the deal, further eroding confidence in its viability.
Analyst Phil Clark of the University of London told DW that Angola could play a decisive role in any future peace process.
“If we are to see a peace process that holds in eastern Congo over the next year, Angola will be a key player,” Clark said, noting that Luanda is seen as the only mediator trusted by both Kigali and Kinshasa.
Angola, which currently chairs the African Union, has recently presented President Félix Tshisekedi with new proposals to end the conflict. Tshisekedi described the ideas as “very interesting” after a brief meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço in Luanda, although details of the proposals have not been made public.
Previous Angolan-led mediation efforts, however, have struggled to halt the recurring cycles of violence, underscoring the complexity of achieving lasting peace in eastern DRC.
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