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The African Union (AU) will now lead the peace initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes.
The decision was reached during a high-level meeting hosted at State House, Nairobi, bringing together co-chairs of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). President William Ruto, alongside former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other regional leaders, endorsed the move to consolidate peace efforts under the AU framework in coordination with the Washington and Doha peace accords.
“To this end, we call for the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes to address the instability in the DRC,” President Ruto said, reaffirming the region’s commitment to a unified peace strategy.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe commended the efforts of both the EAC Regional Force (EACRF) and the SADC peacekeeping missions in contributing to stability in the region.
This development follows a recent report by the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office confirming the deaths of 169 civilians in a brutal attack by M23 rebels on July 9 in Eastern DRC.
The meeting formally resolved to conclude the Nairobi-led initiative under former President Kenyatta and the Luanda process championed by Angolan President and AU Chair Joao Lourenço. Going forward, the AU Commission (AUC) will spearhead peace negotiations and coordinate humanitarian support.
AU Chairperson Mohammoud Youssef Ali reiterated the continental body’s resolve, saying, “We will strive towards achieving lasting peace in Eastern DRC.”
The AUC has also been directed to convene an extraordinary joint EAC-SADC virtual summit within seven days to formally communicate the outcomes of the Nairobi meeting.
Fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army in the mineral-rich North Kivu province has claimed nearly 3,000 lives, heightening the urgency for a consolidated and effective peace process.
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