By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:King Mswati has called for diplomatic engagements to end the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), his representative Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thulisile Motsa-Dladla said when addressing the Southern African Development Community(SADC) Summit held in Zimbabwe on Friday.

As reported by Government online platforms, the Summit’s main agenda was the escalating conflict in the eastern DRC as M23 rebels seize  control of the Goma city.

“The Kingdom of Eswatini has reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace and security, expressing deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, representing His Majesty King Mswati III and the Nation at the SADC Extraordinary Summit in Zimbabwe yesterday, submitted Eswatini's position on the conflict.The DPM emphasised that a sustainable resolution cannot be achieved through military means alone, and stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive approach that includes diplomatic engagement and strategic peacebuilding initiatives.Eswatini further emphasised that SADC’s credibility as a regional peace and security guarantor must be upheld and that the region must stand firm in its commitment to lasting peace in the DRC. The DPM called for a well-defined strategy for the future of SAMIDRC, ensuring that military engagement is complemented by political and diplomatic interventions.The Extraordinary Summit concluded with a strong call for regional unity, enhanced diplomatic efforts, humanitarian interventions, and continued engagement with the DRC Government to prevent further deterioration of the security situation”, reads the Government online report.

The DPM was with Foreign Minister Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu when attending the SADC Summit this week, they returned to the country on Saturday.