THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) have appointed former leaders from Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia to help facilitate peace talks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The decision follows an extraordinary summit held earlier this month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where regional heads of state met to discuss the escalating conflict between M23 rebels and government forces.
According to a joint statement released on Monday, all parties involved in the conflict have been urged to observe an immediate ceasefire as part of ongoing mediation efforts.
Former leaders to lead mediation efforts
The appointed facilitators are:
- Uhuru Kenyatta (former President of Kenya)
- Olusegun Obasanjo (former President of Nigeria)
- Hailemariam Desalegn (former Prime Minister of Ethiopia)
Their role will be to oversee diplomatic efforts, engage rebel groups, and support peace negotiations between the DRC government and armed factions.
‘All actors are urged to observe the ceasefire announced by the EAC-SADC summit, and the M23 and all other groups must halt military advancements,’ the regional blocs said in their statement.
Worsening crisis in eastern Congo
The conflict in eastern DRC has led to the deaths of more than 7,000 people this year, according to Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, who addressed the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.
Since December, the M23 rebels have intensified their control over key areas, seizing Goma and Bukavu, two major provincial capitals. Their continued expansion has raised concerns over regional stability, prompting urgent intervention by African leaders.
As mediation efforts move forward, the international community will be closely watching whether the new diplomatic push can bring lasting peace to the DRC.
