Nearly 2,900 people have been killed since early January, as a result of the hostilities between M23 rebels and DR Congo’s armed forces, according to the United Nations.

Another 700,000 have been displaced and thousands more injured in the raging conflict.

The rebels, said to be backed by Rwanda, have seized vast swathes of land in eastern DR Congo, including the city of Goma. There is concern that their determination to seize Bukavu could lead to more civilian casualties and more suffering.

At the heart of the conflict is mistrust between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi.

A regional diplomatic effort has been activated by leaders to address the decade-old crisis, with calls for an end to hostilities.

At a summit in Tanzania, the Southern African Development Community and East African Community blocs urged all warring parties to hold peace talks within five days, including with the rebels.

Saturday’s gathering in Dar es Salaam brought together heads of state and government representatives to try to resolve the worsening security and humanitarian situation.

Leaders at the meeting resolved that “political and diplomatic engagement was the most sustainable solution to the conflict.”

The Dar summit also demanded the reopening of Goma airport and other key routes to facilitate humanitarian aid, as well as the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from Congolese territory.

M23 rebels, made up of ethnic Tutsis, say they are fighting for minority rights, while DR Congo’s government says the rebels are seeking control of the eastern region’s vast mineral wealth.

Kagame, who attended the summit, has repeatedly denied supporting the rebels.

Following the summit, Kagame posted on Facebook, accusing DR Congo of “mounting a security problem against our country”.

The ongoing tug-of-war between the two leaders is a frightening reality that the conflict could be far from over. However, we remind them that the politics of constant conflict might sound good for leaders, but that is not what works for the people. What works is dialogue and compromise. That is why we ask Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi to talk and end the suffering of the people of DRC and stabilise the region.