The escalation of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is bad news by any definition. Not only has the conflict threatened the livelihoods of more than 100 million people who call the country home, but analysts fear that the instability in the central African country could spill over to neighbouring countries. 

Already Rwanda – which borders the DRC – and South Africa, one of the countries that came to president Felix Tshisekedi’s aid through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), are on tense terms, as the latter lost 13 soldiers in the battle. 

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is reported to have blamed Rwanda for allegedly backing the infamous M23 rebels in eastern DRC, which sparked a response from Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame. 

Malawi – another country that has sent troops as part of a SADC mission – lost three soldiers. 

This is a sad situation that benefits no country in the end. 

The prolonged crisis in the DRC is complex, as millions of its citizens continue to suffer the impacts of armed conflict, hunger and disease outbreaks. 

The conflict needs concerted efforts to ward off rebels who have been at war with the government for decades. 

The DRC, a mineral-rich country, has been rocked by one or the other conflict for more than 30 years. 

It is time that such instability is done away with. Stability needs to be restored to the DRC. 

There are no better parties to contribute to such efforts than the players themselves. 

The conflict in the DRC is no longer just a problem of the central African country, but one that should concern every African leader. 

The wisdom of African proverbs tells us that “when a snake bites your neighbour, you too are in danger”. 

How the snake enters the house, the entrance it uses, and how it can make its way to the back of the house would be irrelevant at this stage. 

That can be dealt with later after the danger is averted. 

Therefore, African leaders must speak with a united voice on this conflict if peace is to come for hundreds of displaced citizens in the war-torn country. 

Concerns that the instability could spread into neighbouring countries are not farfetched. 

One way or the other, all of Africa will feel the brunt of this war – either directly or indirectly. 

The DRC shares its borders with nine neighbouring countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. 

Namibia, although not directly sharing a border with the DRC, has to its credit pronounced its position on the ongoing conflict. 

Its position is aligned with that of SADC, which has denounced the actions of the rebel group. 

The M23 has since claimed control over Ngoma, a prominent city in eastern DRC. 

Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC is home to around one million people. 

It plays an essential role in the country’s economy and administration. 

Further adding to the chaos was a massive jailbreak at the city’s main prison that occurred on Monday. 

It resulted in over 4 000 inmates escaping onto the streets, and residents locking themselves indoors for safety. 

Rwanda, despite several reports that it is backing the M23 rebels, has not confirmed any support for the group. 

Many have regarded the fighting as residues of the 1994 infamous genocide, which led to the deaths of 800 000 people, most of them Tutsis. 

The DRC is one of the five poorest nations in the world, despite its abundance of natural resources. 

This is largely due to the perennial conflicts hitting the country. 

A new chapter needs to be written in the DRC – one that speaks of prosperity, value for human life as well as economic and political stability. 

The memories of 2022, when violence surged in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, are still fresh on the minds of many African leaders. 

That conflict caused extensive internal displacement and substantial loss of life. 

All hands are needed on deck to prevent further loss of life and property in the DRC. 

There is no better time than the present. 

War is bad. 

War is unforgiving, by any standards.