Museveni is among the heads of state who attended the joint East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit on the eastern Congo crisis in Tanzania.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other EAC and SADC leaders were also present. However, President Tshisekedi, despite earlier confirmations, did not travel to Tanzania and instead attended the summit virtually.

Upon his arrival in Tanzania, Museveni reiterated his stance on resolving the conflict.

“My earlier proposal for this summit was that H.E. Tshisekedi should speak directly to those who are in conflict with him, as this impacts all of us,” he shared on X, adding that no other forum is better suited to address the issue than the summit itself.

Speaking at the opening of Saturday’s session for heads of state, Kenyan President William Ruto, who also serves as the Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), emphasized that the conflict in the DRC is complex, sensitive, protracted, and involves multiple actors with differing interests.

“The issues at stake are wide-ranging, touching on historical, economic, and political factors that span many decades and cross national and regional borders.

"There is also a hidden international dimension, whose persistent, cynical, and destructive effects must no longer be underestimated or ignored,” he stated.

Ruto further made it clear that the conflict can only be resolved through dialogue.

"For this reason, such a conflict cannot be solved through military means. We must resist the temptation to believe that we can shoot or bomb our way to a solution in the face of such a complex situation," he added.

The summit follows recent escalations, including the capture of Goma by the M23 rebel group. M23 resumed fighting in 2021, citing the protection of Rwandophones and Congolese Tutsi communities.

Tshisekedi has repeatedly been urged to engage in dialogue through various processes but has remained reluctant to negotiate with M23, despite his army suffering continuous setbacks.

The Congolese government has also accused Rwanda of backing the rebels—an allegation Kigali strongly denies.

Instead, Rwanda has accused the DRC of working with the FDLR, a militia composed of individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Burundian and SADC forces have joined the coalition supporting the Congolese army, even as Kinshasa has issued threats to invade Rwanda.

The summit also comes at a time when SADC countries, particularly South Africa, are facing scrutiny over their controversial involvement in the DRC conflict, with their troops suffering casualties during offensives against M23.

Presidents Museveni and Kagame are among other heads of State attending the joint EAC-SADC Smit on eastern DRac crisis.