Uganda to Host High-Level Regional Summit as Eastern DRC Conflict Intensifies
Kampala, Uganda
Uganda has announced that it will host a high-level regional security summit in Kampala December 21 2025 at State House aimed at addressing the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where renewed fighting has displaced thousands and raised fears of wider regional instability.
Government officials confirmed that heads of state and senior representatives from the East African Community (EAC), the African Union, and key regional partners are expected to attend the summit. The meeting comes amid escalating clashes involving armed groups, including the M23 rebels, whose recent advances have destabilized border regions.
Uganda, which shares a long and porous border with the DRC, has been increasingly affected by the conflict, hosting large numbers of refugees and facing growing security concerns along its western frontier.
Background and Developments
Eastern DRC has endured decades of conflict driven by armed militias, competition over natural resources, and weak state authority. Recent escalations have overwhelmed local administrations and humanitarian agencies, prompting urgent diplomatic intervention.
Officials say the Kampala summit will focus on:
Reinforcing ceasefire commitments
Enhancing joint regional security operations
Expanding humanitarian corridors
Reviving inclusive political dialogue
Uganda has previously played a mediation role in regional conflicts and continues to advocate for African-led solutions to security crises.
Why It Matters
The conflict in eastern DRC poses a direct threat to regional stability, trade routes, and economic integration in East Africa. For Uganda, continued instability risks increased refugee inflows, cross-border crime, and disruption of regional commerce.
A successful summit could strengthen diplomatic cooperation and reduce violence. Failure, analysts warn, could accelerate regional spillover.
What to Watch
Outcomes and resolutions from the Kampala summit
Commitments to joint military or peacekeeping actions
Responses from armed groups in eastern DRC
Humanitarian access and refugee response measures
