Diplomatic
engagements and consultations between the two blocs have seen the appointment
of former Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta, former leader of Nigeria Olusegun
Obasanjo and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe as
mediators in the conflict that was threatening to suck in the whole Great Lakes
region until the intervention of SADC Chairman President Mnangagwa and other
African leaders.
The appointment
of the three leaders is a culmination of a joint EAC-Sadc summit, co-chaired by
President Mnangagwa and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto, in Tanzania which
deliberated on the conflict in Eastern DRC pitting armed M23 rebel groups against
Government forces backed by some Southern African countries under the SADC
Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
In a statement,
the Joint EAC/Sadc said President Mnangagwa and President Ruto continued
engagement efforts following the summit held in Tanzania early this month which
saw the appointment of the three leaders as facilitators.
“His Excellency
Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and
Chairperson of SADC and His Excellency, Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of
the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the EAC have continued engaging on the
progress in restoration of peace and security and in consultation with SADC and
EAC Heads of State and Government have agreed on the appointment of HE Uhuru
Muigai Kenyatta former President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E Olusegun
Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and HE
Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, the former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia as Facilitators of the EAC-SADC peace process (the merged
Luanda and Nairobi processes) in Eastern DRC,” reads the statement.
“Preparatory
Meetings of the EAC Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) from EAC Partner States
were held in Nairobi on 21st February 2025 to discuss the ongoing security
situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Meeting of the
SADC Chief of Defence Forces on the same subject also convened in Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania. The meetings followed a directive from the joint EAC-SADC
Heads of State Summit on 8th February 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Prior to
the meeting the EAC, Defense Experts Working Group held two days of discussions
on the situation in Eastern DRC. The meeting was guided by six key directives:
Immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, provision
of humanitarian assistance, opening of main supply routes, development of a
securitisation plan for Goma and surrounding areas; and immediate reopening of
Goma Airport and advice on other facilitative interventions.”
Yesterday, a
joint EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting was held in Dar es Salam,
Tanzania, preceding the Joint Ministerial Meeting scheduled for February 28.
“The meeting is
expected to work on the details of the ceasefire. Considering the above
developments, all actors are urged to observe the ceasefire announced by the
EAC-SADC Summit, and the M23 and all other actors are called upon to cease any
further advancements in Eastern DRC and to observe and abide by an immediate
ceasefire. The Joint EAC-SADC process is actively seized of the peace process
in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,” reads the statement.
Conflict
between Government forces and M23 armed rebels have escalated over the past
months with the armed groups taking control of large swathes of the
resource-rich Eastern DRC including the provincial capital Goma.
Last Friday,
the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that
strongly condemned the ongoing offensive by M23 rebels in the eastern DRC. Herald
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