Ruto Campaigns Against Military Action In DRC

President William Ruto has restated that the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can only be resolved through dialogue and not military action.
Speaking at the joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Tanzania, Ruto emphasised the need for a comprehensive dialogue that addresses the underlying causes of the crisis while securing the DRC's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He further acknowledged the complexity of the conflict, describing it as protracted and involving multiple actors with varying interests.
The President also pointed to the "clandestine international dimension" influencing the situation, warning that the destructive effects of these external forces must no longer be ignored.
“For this reason, it is equally clear that such a conflict cannot be resolved through military means.We must resist the temptation of thinking that we can somehow shoot or bombard our way into a solution in the face of the complexity involved," he said.
President Ruto also noted that the dialogue must bring together multiple stakeholders including regional states and international bodies and in order to dialogue and collaborate to explore, develop, and implement a lasting solution.
The decades-long conflict in eastern DRC rapidly escalated at the start of January 2025, with clashes in Goma, North Kivu province. More than 480,000 people have so far been displaced, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.