NAIROBI, Kenya – The East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have joined forces in a coordinated push to end the protracted conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), appointing three former African leaders to spearhead the effort.
Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ethiopia’s Hailemariam Desalegn have been named joint facilitators, bringing together two previously separate peace initiatives—the EAC-led Nairobi Process and the Luanda Process—under a single framework.
The decision was made on February 8, 2025, during a high-level summit of EAC and SADC leaders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The meeting was co-chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who chairs SADC, and Kenyan President William Ruto, the current EAC chairperson.
Following the summit, regional military leaders quickly moved to assess the security situation.
EAC Chiefs of Defense Forces (CDFs) met in Nairobi on February 21, while their SADC counterparts gathered in Dar es Salaam, as both blocs strategized on implementing directives from the joint summit.
A crucial EAC-SADC Joint CDF meeting is set for February 24 in Dar es Salaam, ahead of a Joint Ministerial Meeting on February 28, which will detail ceasefire implementation and other peace measures.
The peace plan calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, humanitarian aid access, reopening of key supply routes, a security framework for Goma and surrounding areas, and reopening of Goma Airport.
Defense experts from both organizations are working to refine these measures, ensuring a smooth transition from conflict to stability.
The Joint Summit has urged all parties involved—including the M23 rebel group and other armed factions—to immediately cease hostilities and commit to a peaceful resolution.
The leaders emphasized that a unified approach is crucial to addressing the deep-rooted instability that has plagued the eastern DRC for decades.
With Kenyatta, Obasanjo, and Desalegn leading mediation efforts, the EAC-SADC collaboration signals a shift toward a more structured and strategic peace process.
Both regional blocs remain committed to restoring peace and security through a blend of diplomatic engagement and coordinated military interventions.
