NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto on Tuesday chaired the inaugural meeting of the newly appointed Nairobi-Luanda peace process facilitators, marking a significant step toward resolving the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The virtual session brought together four former heads of state appointed to spearhead the initiative, including Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), and Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic)
Their mandate, outlined during the March 24 joint virtual summit, sets the stage for their engagement in advancing peace efforts under the joint leadership of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
President Ruto emphasized the urgency of addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, which has led to widespread displacement, loss of lives, and regional instability.
“The situation poses a great danger not just to the DRC but to the stability of the entire region. If left unchecked, it risks spilling over into neighboring countries,” Ruto warned.
The March 24 summit, co-chaired by Ruto (as EAC chairperson) and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa (SADC chairperson), built upon the February 8 joint session in Dar es Salaam and the March 17 ministerial meeting in Harare.
The outcomes included reports from the Chiefs of Defence and a roadmap outlining key peace and security measures.
The facilitators’ briefing session was jointly conducted by representatives from EAC, SADC, and the African Union (AU), who urged swift implementation of peace recommendations.
Ruto commended Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Felix Tshisekedi (DRC) for their face-to-face meeting last week, calling it a “clear demonstration” of their commitment to ending the violence.
The joint summit also brought together several heads of state and government, including Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar), Téte António (Angola), and Deng Alor Kuol (South Sudan).
The Nairobi-Luanda process remains a key diplomatic initiative, with Ruto reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Great Lakes region.
