South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally arrived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to attend the joint Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)–East Africa Community (EAC) Heads of State and Government Summit on the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This comes just moments after reports had indicated that Ramaphosa had opted to be represented by the country’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.

Ramaphosa’s physical attendance of the summit also comes just moments after Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi failed to attend in person the crucial forum aimed at discussing the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC and instead joined the meeting virtually.

Arrival

The South African Head of State was accompanied by Lamola and Defence Military Veterans Angie Motshekga as well as senior government officials on his arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

“His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa has arrived at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he is on a working visit to participate in the Joint SADC-EAC Heads of State and Government Summit on the security situation in the eastern DRC,” a statement shared by the South African presidency on Saturday, February 8, 2025, via social media read.

🇿🇦His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa has arrived at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he is a working visit to participate at the Joint SADC-EAC Heads of State and Government Summit on the security situation in the eastern DRC.… pic.twitter.com/W9Ob4DRcal

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) February 8, 2025

He was received by Tanzanian Minister of Minerals and Investment Anthony Mavunde, South Africa High Commissioner Noluthando Mayende-Malepe, Defence Attaché Colonel Bongani Majola, and the Acting Chief of State Protocol Amb Grace Mason.

“Tanzanian Minister of Minerals and Investment Anthony Mavunde, South Africa High Commissioner Noluthando Mayende-Malepe, Defence Attaché Colonel Bongani Majola, and the Acting Chief of State Protocol Amb Grace Mason formed the reception party. The Heads of States and Government of SADC and the East African Community agreed to meet urgently following their respective extraordinary summits to deliberate on the way forward regarding the security situation in the DRC,” the South African Presidency stated.

EAC-SADC Summit

The African leaders agreed to meet urgently following their respective extraordinary summits held last month to deliberate on the way forward regarding the conflict in the DRC.

Ramaphosa’s attendance adds to the long list of Heads of State attending in person, who include Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Kenya’s William Ruto, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.

Apart from Burundi president Evariste Ndayishimiye, who has totally snubbed the meeting, and Tshisekedi, who joined virtually, all heads of state in the East African Community (EAC) have attended the summit in person.