President William Ruto has held talks with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, over the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ruto, who is in Namibia, held talks with Mnangagwa, who is also the chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) are firmly committed to implementing the resolutions of our joint summit held last month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on the escalating conflict in Eastern DRC. Our primary focus is to address the crisis and deliver lasting peace.
“In Windhoek, Namibia, held talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, who is also the chair of SADC. We agreed to consult and eventually call a virtual meeting between the two regional blocs next week to discuss the DRC crisis,” Ruto said in a statement on X on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
SADC withdrawal
The meeting comes after SADC confirmed the phased withdrawal of their troops from DR Congo.
“Summit terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops from the DRC.
“Summit emphasised its dedication to addressing the ongoing conflict in the DRC and reaffirmed its commitment to support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace and security in the Eastern DRC, in line with the SADC Mutual Defence Pact of 2003.
“Summit reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as sustainable peace, security, and development,” the SADC statement on withdrawal read.
Meanwhile, President Ruto also discussed matters to do with trade between Kenya and Zimbabwe.
“With President Mnangagwa, we also agreed to work together in strengthening regional integration and boosting trade through the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, which unites the EAC, SADC, and COMESA, as well as advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement,” he added.
