EAC, SADC leaders intensify DRC peace efforts in second joint summit

EAC and SADC Heads of States and Governments participate in a virtual joint summit on DRC conflict on March 24, 2025. [PCS]

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been appointed to a panel of eminent African leaders to mediate the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Kenyatta will work alongside former Presidents Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), and Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa) to broker peace in the region.

The decision was made during the second virtual joint summit of Heads of State and Government, co-chaired by East African Community (EAC) Chairperson President William Ruto and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.

"The Joint Summit directed the co-chairs to convene a briefing session with the panel of facilitators within the next seven days. The briefing should be done jointly by SADC, EAC, and the AU," read part of the official communique.

As violence escalates in eastern DRC, regional leaders have intensified diplomatic efforts to restore stability.

"The summit resolved to expedite the peace process by appointing an expanded panel of five facilitators," President Ruto said. "The Joint Summit reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable peace and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation."

The first summit, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 8, appointed Kenyatta, Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn as joint facilitators of the merged Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. The initiative aims to address the security crisis and reinforce peace efforts in eastern DRC.

The March 23 Movement (M23) rebels seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, in January, followed by Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, in February. The situation has deteriorated for months as M23 advances, capturing key territories.

M23 has since pushed westward, raising fears of further destabilisation. The crisis, fueled by ethnic and political tensions, along with the involvement of multiple armed groups, has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe.

Thousands of civilians have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in Uganda and Rwanda. The United Nations has warned of worsening conditions as aid agencies struggle to deliver relief amid ongoing hostilities.

Meanwhile, Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame last week met in Doha, Qatar, on the same day Kinshasa sent a delegation to Angola for talks with M23 rebels.
Rwanda has accused Angola of lacking neutrality, further straining diplomatic efforts.

On Monday, Angola announced its withdrawal from the African Union-backed Luanda Process, which was aimed at reconciliation between Tshisekedi and Kagame. Angola cited the need to focus on broader continental priorities as it assumes the African Union chairmanship.

"The aborted Luanda meeting with M23 representatives underscored the challenges we faced in this mediation," read a statement from the Angolan presidency.

"Despite our departure, we remain committed to African-led solutions."

Angola's exit comes amid growing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali.

Despite setbacks, regional leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to a political solution.

"The escalating conflict in eastern DRC is not just a concern for the Congolese people but for the entire region. A coordinated regional approach is necessary," Ruto said.

President Kagame echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for dialogue. "If you want the war to end, you end the injustice, you end political problems-not only for your people, but for others, including neighbors, that are affected. I think we are making progress. We are counting on everyone to help make positive contributions toward ending this crisis."

Kagame added that Rwanda remains committed to regional security, which must be addressed through cooperation with neighboring countries.

The summit also endorsed the outcomes of the recent EAC-SADC ministerial meeting in Harare, which outlined a roadmap with short, medium, and long-term solutions to the conflict.

Leaders in attendance included Presidents Felix Tshisekedi (DRC), Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia).

Also present were Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Angola's Minister of External Relations Tete Antonio, and South Sudan's Minister of East African Community Affairs Deng Alor Kuol.