The East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have appointed former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn as joint facilitators for the peace process in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This marks a significant step in merging the Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives to create a unified approach toward stability in the conflict-torn region.
The decision was made during the Joint Summit of Heads of State and Government, co-chaired by Zimbabwean President and SADC Chairperson Emmerson Mnangagwa and Kenyan President and EAC Chairperson William Ruto. The summit, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 8, 2025, sought to reinforce peace efforts and tackle the ongoing security crisis in Eastern DRC.
As part of the initiative, the EAC Chiefs of Defense Forces (CDFs) convened in Nairobi on February 21, 2025, to evaluate the security situation and devise intervention strategies. Simultaneously, their counterparts in SADC met in Dar es Salaam to align their plans with directives issued by the Joint Summit. These consultations are crucial in ensuring a coordinated military and diplomatic approach to de-escalating tensions in Eastern DRC.
The peace initiative outlines several crucial directives, including:
- An immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
- Provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
- Reopening of key supply routes.
- Development of a security plan for Goma and surrounding areas.
- Immediate reopening of Goma Airport to facilitate relief efforts and security operations.
Defense experts from both EAC and SADC have been actively engaged in reviewing these directives to ensure their effective implementation. Further consultations are expected, with a joint EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense Forces meeting scheduled for February 24, 2025, in Dar es Salaam. This will be followed by a Joint Ministerial Meeting on February 28, 2025, where additional details on the ceasefire implementation will be discussed.
The EAC-SADC leadership has urged all actors in the conflict, including the M23 rebel group and other armed factions, to fully observe the ceasefire and cease any further hostilities. The Joint Summit reaffirmed its commitment to fostering sustainable peace in the region, highlighting the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders.
With the appointment of the three seasoned African leaders as facilitators, the EAC-SADC peace process aims to provide a coordinated and effective approach to resolving the persistent instability in Eastern DRC. The regional bloc remains actively engaged in diplomatic and military interventions to restore peace and security in the region.
