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DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA – February 25, 2025 – Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, ex-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn have been appointed as co-facilitators for the newly merged peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This decision was made during a joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held in Dar es Salaam on February 8, 2025.
Unified Peace Efforts
The appointment of these leaders signifies a shift towards a more coordinated approach, merging the separate Luanda and Nairobi peace tracks into a single process. This move aims to enhance diplomatic efforts and ensure a more effective response to the ongoing crisis in eastern DRC.
Key Objectives
The peace initiative outlines several key measures, including an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian aid, reopening critical supply routes, and securing Goma and its surrounding areas. The regional leadership has called on all parties involved in the conflict, including the M23 rebel group and other armed factions, to honor the ceasefire and cease hostilities.
Regional Collaboration
Following the summit, preparatory meetings were held in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, where EAC and SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces discussed strategic directives for peace enforcement. These meetings set the stage for a joint gathering of EAC and SADC military chiefs scheduled for February 24, followed by a Joint Ministerial Meeting on February 28 to review progress and agree on further security measures.