Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, co-chairs of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) joint summit, reached a consensus on establishing a unified peace initiative aimed at resolving the protracted conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The agreement paves the way for the consolidation of the Nairobi Process, led by the EAC, and the Luanda Process, previously facilitated under the auspices of the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). This development seeks to harmonise regional peace mechanisms under a common framework, creating a more coherent, inclusive, and African-led approach to the DRC’s longstanding instability.
President Ruto, speaking at the EAC-SADC Co-Chairs’ Meeting with the panel of African facilitators, emphasised the importance of pan-African collaboration and the continent’s capacity to generate credible solutions to its own challenges. “We have an opportunity as Africa, and with the participation of the international community, to provide the necessary mechanisms for the resolution of the challenges that we have in the eastern DRC,” he remarked.
He further clarified that the unified peace framework would mobilise and streamline resources while aligning regional and international initiatives. Ruto also affirmed that this African-led process complements—rather than competes with—ongoing efforts such as the Doha and Washington initiatives. The ultimate aim, he noted, is the resolution of the root causes of the crisis, through an inclusive political process that engages all stakeholders, including armed groups, civil society, and displaced communities.
President Mnangagwa echoed this sentiment, urging all parties to commit sincerely to the peace process. “In the spirit of pan-African unity and progress, we urge all parties to fully support the leadership of our esteemed facilitators and to engage in honest, inclusive, and constructive dialogue,” he stated. His appeal underlined the necessity of regional and global synergy, including partnerships with entities such as the United Nations.
The Nairobi summit also served to formally brief a high-level panel of facilitators on their mandate, which includes the oversight and guidance of an inclusive political dialogue. The panel comprises former leaders with substantial diplomatic experience: former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, and former President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi. Their role will be pivotal in steering the peace framework towards a sustainable and credible resolution.
The joint summit attracted the presence of key continental actors, including African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, reinforcing the AU’s commitment to its “Silencing the Guns” initiative—a continental agenda to end all wars and conflicts by fostering home-grown political and security solutions.
Eastern DRC has long been plagued by recurring violence, with a complex array of armed groups and external interests contributing to one of Africa’s most entrenched humanitarian crises. Recent years have witnessed increasing regional involvement, reflecting the transnational implications of the conflict.
The unified peace initiative marks a significant evolution in regional diplomacy, symbolising an era of pragmatic and collective African leadership. While its implementation remains contingent on the sincerity of all involved parties and the robustness of resource mobilisation, the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda processes is widely regarded as a strategic step towards durable peace in the region.
