Former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn have been appointed by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to lead peace efforts in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The announcement was made by Kenyan President William Ruto, who is also the Chairperson of EAC, stating that the decision to appoint these leaders was reached collectively. Ruto explained, “We have agreed as EAC and SADC that Uhuru Kenyatta, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Hailemariam Desalegn will spearhead the peace efforts in Eastern DRC, helping find a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict.”
This decision came after a joint summit of Heads of State and Government from EAC and SADC, held in Dar es Salaam on February 8, 2025, which was chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Ruto. The summit focused on the security situation in DRC, where escalating violence and clashes between the DRC government and armed groups, particularly the M23 rebels, have led to significant loss of life and displacement.
The appointment follows a major shift in the peace process. Earlier, Angolan President João Lourenço, who had been acting as the mediator in the ongoing conflict, announced that his responsibilities would prevent him from continuing in his role as a peace broker for the DRC crisis.
At the summit, the EAC working group discussed the deteriorating security situation in the DRC and made critical recommendations, including the immediate cessation of hostilities and the provision of humanitarian aid. The EAC and SADC also called for all parties, including the M23 rebels, to comply with previously established ceasefire agreements.
President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC has continuously called for international assistance in addressing the M23 insurgency.
Despite ongoing appeals, Tshisekedi has struggled to effectively counter the group. “I have asked for help from friendly countries to fight the M23 rebels, but up until now, we have not succeeded,” Tshisekedi lamented.
Tshisekedi's call for international intervention intensified after the M23 expanded its territorial control, recently capturing the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
These areas have been vital to the region’s stability, and the M23’s control over them has worsened the humanitarian crisis.
In 2022, the Nairobi Agreement mandated the deployment of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to help address the crisis diplomatically.
However, by the end of 2023, the Congolese government requested that EACRF withdraw, accusing the force of failing to deliver tangible results.
Despite this, President Tshisekedi has continued to request the support of the EACRF in his battle against M23.
In the face of the escalating violence, the DRC also turned to SADC for assistance, and countries such as South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi sent troops to collaborate with Burundi’s forces in the fight against the M23. However, this move has been met with strong opposition from Rwanda, which is accused of supporting M23, an allegation confirmed by the Congolese government, the United Nations, and neighboring countries.
The appointment of former presidents Kenyatta, Obasanjo, and Desalegn as peace facilitators reflects the growing urgency to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
With the M23 rebels continuing to expand their control, it remains to be seen whether the new peace efforts will be able to bring an end to the violence that has plagued the eastern DRC for decades.
Tshisekedi has emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and has reiterated his call for international assistance in tackling the rebels: “We need the support of our neighbors and international partners to finally end this conflict and restore peace to our people,” he stated, hoping that the new peace efforts will bring lasting stability to his country.
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