SADC and EAC Chairpersons Praise Region's Leadership in Pursuit of Peace in the DRC

Strategic Insights -

In a joint meeting between the SADC and EAC co-chairpersons in Nairobi, Kenya, Presidents Mnangagwa and William Ruto were commended for their continued pursuit of lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting aimed to formally appoint a panel of five facilitators to drive the peace process, including former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Sahle-Work Zewde, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Catherine Samba-Panza. The African Union (AU) Commission chairperson, Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, praised the leaders' commitment to peace in the eastern DRC, citing the Washington Agreement and the Declaration of Principles signed between Rwanda and the DRC, and M23 rebels and the DRC government, respectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SADC and EAC chairpersons, Presidents Mnangagwa and William Ruto, convened a joint meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, to appoint a panel of five facilitators to drive the peace process in the eastern DRC.
  • The facilitators include former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Sahle-Work Zewde, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Catherine Samba-Panza.
  • The African Union (AU) Commission chairperson, Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, praised the leaders' commitment to peace in the eastern DRC, citing the Washington Agreement and the Declaration of Principles signed between Rwanda and the DRC, and M23 rebels and the DRC government, respectively.
  • The AU is happy with the progress made in the peace process, but emphasizes the need for better coordination and more coherence to succeed in the implementation of agreements.
  • Support President Mnangagwa advocated for supporting the five facilitators, urging all parties to engage in honest, inclusive, and constructive dialogue.
  • President Ruto believes that a "sustained, coordinated Africa-led peace process remains the best pathway to sustained and peaceful eastern DRC".
  • The two regional organizations, SADC and EAC, and the African Union Commission remain available to ensure that the implementation of both the Washington Peace Accord and the Doha Initiative is actualized.
  • The meeting commended the panel of facilitators for accepting to guide the process towards addressing the various facets of security challenges in the eastern DRC.
  • The meeting adopted the enabling documents outlining the mandate of the facilitators, including the framework for the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda processes.
  • The meeting resolved to hold a virtual Extraordinary Joint EAC-SADC Summit within seven days to communicate the outcomes of the meeting.

Statistics:

  • The M23 rebels and the DRC government signed the Declaration of Principles on July 19, pledging to implement the deal's terms by July 29.
  • A final peace deal is due by August 18.
  • The M23 had reportedly seized two villages in North Kivu on Monday.
  • The African Union (AU) Commission will communicate the outcomes of the meeting to all AU member states.
  • The joint EAC-SADC and AU structures will comprise the AU mediator, EAC-SADC panel of facilitators, to report to the Joint EAC-SADC Summit and the African Union.
  • The technical secretariats of the AU Commission, the EAC, and the SADC will be consolidated into a joint secretariat, led by the AU Commission in Addis Ababa.
  • The terms of reference and related documents for the AU mediator and the EAC-SADC panel of facilitators will be consolidated and endorsed by the Joint EAC-SADC Summit.

Sources:

  • "AU, SADC, and EAC joint meeting on DRC peace process" (not dated)
  • "Statement by the African Union Commission Chairperson, Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf" (not dated)
  • "Speech by President Mnangagwa at the joint meeting of the EAC-SADC co-chairpersons" (not dated)
  • "Speech by President William Ruto at the joint meeting of the EAC-SADC co-chairpersons" (not dated)