Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya have traveled to Harare, Zimbabwe, to participate in a high-level joint ministerial meeting between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to an update from the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary on Monday, March 17, the meeting focuses on addressing the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Upon arrival, Mudavadi was welcomed by Kenya’s chargé d’affaires in Harare, Justine Ikumiru. He is set to co-chair the discussions alongside Zimbabwe’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Prof. Amon Murwira, who also chairs the SADC Council of Ministers.
The gathering builds upon resolutions made during the Dar es Salaam joint summit of EAC and SADC Heads of State and Government held on February 8, 2025.
“This engagement follows up on commitments from the Dar es Salaam summit, ensuring a coordinated regional approach to security challenges in eastern DRC,” read a statement from Mudavadi’s office.
The meeting seeks to develop a comprehensive peace framework that addresses the underlying causes of the ongoing conflict. Additionally, leaders will explore strategies for long-term political stability in DRC.
The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary also confirmed that previous sessions have involved EAC and SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces, highlighting continued regional collaboration.
The Zimbabwe meeting follows an earlier high-level session in Nairobi, where EAC Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers convened to deliberate on peace initiatives for eastern DRC.
The Nairobi discussions, chaired by Mudavadi, aimed at formulating a structured roadmap for peace restoration while assessing the technical support required for the joint EAC-SADC initiative.
Delegates emphasized the importance of a coordinated regional effort in tackling insecurity in eastern DRC, which has endured years of instability.
