African leaders call for immediate ceasefire in Democratic Republic of Congo

Leaders from east and southern Africa have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They urged all parties, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, to engage in peace talks within five days. The summit in Tanzania addressed the escalating violence, which has displaced 700,000 people and resulted in over 900 deaths since January. The leaders emphasized the need for political solutions and the reopening of key routes for humanitarian aid. Rwandan President Paul Kagame attended the summit but denied supporting the M23 rebels. The conflict, ongoing since the 1990s, has intensified recently, raising concerns about regional stability.