Kampala, Uganda – Uganda is preparing to host a summit of regional Heads of State next Sunday to address the rapidly worsening security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), diplomatic sources said.
A senior official at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed preparations for the meeting, which is expected to focus on recent battlefield developments in South Kivu province and the growing humanitarian fallout.
“Yes, the meeting will examine the latest advances by the AFC/M23 armed group and the deepening humanitarian crisis. The main objective is to prevent the situation from escalating into a regional conflict,” the official told local media.
The AFC/M23’s push along the Kamanyola–Uvira axis has heightened alarm among neighboring countries and international partners.
Uvira, a strategic lakeside city near the Burundi border, had been hosting South Kivu’s provincial administrative institutions, and its capture significantly altered the balance on the ground.
Regional officials warn that continued fighting risks destabilizing border areas and disrupting trade corridors linking eastern Congo to Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Rwanda has insisted that it has legitimate security concerns along its western border, calling for political and security solutions that address the presence of hostile armed groups in eastern Congo.
Regional and international pressure
The proposed Kampala summit comes amid rising regional and international pressure for coordinated action.
Burundi has warned that continued M23 advances could draw neighboring states into direct confrontation, while accusing them of attacks on Burundian forces deployed in Congo.
Bujumbura says thousands of civilians have crossed into its territory, placing strain on humanitarian services in border areas.
U.S. officials have also cautioned that the current trajectory of the conflict risks igniting a broader regional war, reinforcing calls for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Eastern Congo has long been plagued by violence involving dozens of armed groups, driven by ethnic tensions, competition over land and minerals, and the legacy of past regional conflicts. The latest escalation has displaced thousands, exacerbating an already fragile humanitarian situation.
Uganda’s role
Uganda, which shares a long and porous border with eastern Congo, has played a complex role in the crisis.
In recent years, it has hosted peace talks under regional frameworks while also deploying troops in joint operations with Congolese forces against Islamist rebels linked to the Islamic State group in North Kivu and Ituri.
Diplomatic sources say a Kampala-hosted summit would likely bring together leaders from the Great Lakes region, alongside representatives of regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
Discussions are expected to assess diplomatic, security and humanitarian responses within existing regional mechanisms. There was no immediate confirmation of the final list of participants or the summit agenda.
Analysts say the planned meeting reflects growing urgency among regional leaders to contain the eastern Congo crisis and prevent the fall of key towns such as Uvira from triggering a wider regional confrontation.
