Source: European Parliament
The EU has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts aiming at the cessation of hostilities, provision of humanitarian aid and the resumption of peace talks under the Luanda/Nairobi peace process.
It has been doing so in close contact with likeminded and its regional partners across the Great Lakes region. A joint ministerial meeting between the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community will follow-up on the conclusions of the Joint Summit of the two organisations held on 8 February 2025[1] to address the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which set a path for, inter alia, a ceasefire and the restart of peaceful negotiations.
The Foreign Affairs Council of 24 February 2025[2] examined ways to put pressure on Rwanda to stop its support to the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) armed group and withdraw its troops from the DRC.
It decided to suspend security and defence consultations with Rwanda and adopted a political decision to include new listings to its existing autonomous sanctions regime in view of the situation in the DRC, depending on developments on the ground.
The Foreign Affairs Council of 24 February 2025 also discussed the need to review the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda[3] on a strategic partnership on sustainable raw material value chains. This review is currently ongoing.