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Leaders from east and southern Africa have called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end the deadly fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.<\/p>\n
At a crisis summit in Tanzania, the Southern African Development Community and East African Community (EAC) blocs urged all warring parties to hold peace talks within five days, including with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.<\/p>\n
The rebels – fighting government forces – have seized vast swathes of land in the eastern DR Congo, including the city of Goma. Their push towards Bukavu has raised fears of a wider regional war.<\/p>\n
As part of their talks, army chiefs have also been told to draw up a security plan for Goma and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
The latest UN figures suggest 2,900 people have been killed since early January, as a result of the hostilities between M23 and armed forces of the DR Congo.<\/p>\n
Around 700,000 are estimated to have been displaced and thousands more injured.<\/p>\n
Saturday’s gathering in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s biggest city, brought together heads of state and government representatives to try to resolve the worsening security and humanitarian situation.<\/p>\n
“The summit emphasises that political and diplomatic engagement is the most sustainable solution to the conflict,” said the follow-up communique.<\/p>\n
It also demanded the reopening of Goma airport and other key routes to facilitate humanitarian aid, as well as the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from Congolese territory.<\/p>\n
M23, which is made up of ethnic Tutsis, say they are fighting for minority rights while DR Congo’s government says the Rwanda-backed rebels are seeking control of the eastern region’s vast mineral wealth.<\/p>\n
Rwandan President Paul Kagame – who was at the summit – has repeatedly denied any involvement in supporting the rebels.<\/p>\n