By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) gathered in Arusha, Tanzania, for a regional summit aimed at discussing key political and security issues affecting the bloc, but the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda were absent from the meeting.
Heritage Times HT reports that the summit brought together heads of state and senior officials from EAC member countries to deliberate on regional cooperation, economic integration and security challenges across East Africa.
However, the absence of the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda drew attention, particularly as tensions between the two countries have remained a major concern within the region.
Both nations have been at the centre of ongoing diplomatic and security discussions, especially over the conflict in eastern Congo, where armed groups have continued to fuel instability and humanitarian crises.
Regional leaders have repeatedly called for dialogue and coordinated efforts to address the security situation, which has strained relations between the two neighbours and threatened broader regional stability.
Despite the absence of the two leaders, the summit in Arusha proceeded with discussions focused on strengthening cooperation among member states, promoting peace and security, and advancing the East African Community’s integration agenda.
Officials said the meeting also aimed to review progress on earlier resolutions and explore ways to enhance collaboration in addressing cross-border challenges affecting the region.
