President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, held a telephonic discussion on the worsening conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire and renewed peace negotiations.
The discussion comes as conflicting reports emerge about control over Goma. While DRC government officials claim the national army has secured most of the city, the M23 rebel group insists they remain in control.
The unrest recently led to the deaths of nine South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members as M23 fighters advanced toward Goma.
Ramaphosa and Kagame reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the crisis through diplomatic efforts. The two leaders previously met in Rwanda last year during the commemoration of the 1994 genocide, where they agreed that a sustained peace process is the only path to a lasting resolution in the DRC.