NAIROBI, Kenya – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula met with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Nairobi for high-level discussions on peace efforts in the conflict-ridden Great Lakes region.
The talks focused on the ongoing mediation process between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, a conflict that has escalated tensions in East Africa.
Obasanjo is among a group of eminent African leaders facilitating peace efforts in the region. He is working alongside Uhuru Kenyatta (former President of Kenya), Kgalema Motlanthe (Former President of South Africa), Sahle-Work Zewde (President of Ethiopia), and Catherine Samba-Panza (Former President of the Central African Republic)
The mediation is backed by the African Union and regional organizations, with the goal of de-escalating tensions and promoting stability in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
During the meeting, Obasanjo reflected on his decades-long commitment to peace efforts in Africa, drawing parallels between past conflicts and the current crisis.
“It was the same problem we are dealing with now. We must find a solution,” Obasanjo remarked.
Speaker Wetang’ula, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, emphasized the importance of homegrown diplomatic solutions, recalling his previous involvement in the DRC peace process alongside the late Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa in 2009.
“As foreign minister then, I worked on the Congo conflict with the late President Benjamin Mkapa. The same problem persists 14 years later,” said Wetang’ula.
He commended the renewed diplomatic efforts by African leaders, stressing that regional peace and stability require sustained political will and cooperation.
“It is only through high-level mediation and collective political will that we can secure enduring peace and development for our people,” Wetang’ula stated.
The meeting comes at a critical time when calls for increased regional cooperation, humanitarian response, and continental solidarity are growing louder.
As one of Kenya’s most experienced diplomats, Wetang’ula continues to champion peace initiatives across Africa, reinforcing Kenya’s role in regional conflict resolution.
