The development was confirmed via a statement posted on the South African Presidency's X account.
'The two heads of state have agreed on the urgent need for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks by all parties to the conflict,' the statement noted.
On January 28, 2025, Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, described the discussions between President Kagame and President Ramaphosa as productive and consensual.
As President Ramaphosa visited Rwanda in April 2024, he and President Kagame had agreed that a political solution would be much beneficial in ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
At the time, South African troops participating in the SADC mission had been operating alongside the DRC military and armed groups such as FDLR, the Wazalendo coalition, and European mercenaries to combat M23 rebels for nearly five months.
After returning to South Africa, President Ramaphosa stated that the activities happening there risk destabilizing Rwanda, particularly those involving FDLR.
Despite President Ramaphosa's comments about shifting focus, South African troops under the SADC mission continued to fight alongside DRC forces against M23.
This persisted until January 27, 2025, when M23 captured the city of Goma. South Africa confirmed that between January 23 and January 24, 2025, nine of its soldiers were killed in the conflict. Seven were part of the SADC mission, while two were serving under the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Malawi, which also has troops in the SADC mission, reported that three of its soldiers were killed in two days of fighting against M23 rebels in the town of Sake and surrounding areas.
Reports suggest that just before M23 took control of Goma, soldiers under the SADC mission, along with UN peacekeepers, surrendered and awaited evacuation back to their home countries.
IGIHE
