President William Ruto and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, on Wednesday co-chaired a virtual Joint Extraordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), signalling a united front in advancing peace efforts in the conflict-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The summit endorsed the appointment of former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi to the five-member Panel of Facilitators charged with steering inclusive dialogue in the region. Masisi joins a distinguished team comprising former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Central African Republic leader Catherine Samba-Panza, and Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde.
In a major step towards coordination, the leaders approved the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes into a single African-led mediation framework. The African Union will provide overarching support for the framework, which aims to improve efficiency, avoid duplication, and deliver tangible results in restoring stability.
The summit also adopted key operational documents and a resource mobilisation plan to sustain the peace initiative. Leaders welcomed progress achieved through recent diplomatic engagements in Washington and Doha, and commended the willingness of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to embrace dialogue as a pathway to resolution.
Acknowledging the vital role of the international community, the summit expressed appreciation for the contributions of the United States and Qatar in supporting the peace process.
President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to a united African-driven approach, describing it as “the surest path” to lasting peace in eastern DRC.
“We stand firm in our resolve to end the conflict, halt the tragic loss of lives, prevent further displacement of communities, and protect property and livelihoods from destruction,” he said.
The eastern DRC has endured decades of instability, with multiple armed groups vying for control of territory and resources, leading to humanitarian crises and mass displacement. By consolidating mediation efforts and pooling resources, the EAC and SADC hope to strengthen diplomatic pressure, foster trust among conflicting parties, and lay the groundwork for lasting peace in the region.
