Obasanjo, Ex-Leaders Of Kenya, Ethiopia, To Lead DRC Peace Process

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Former Ethiopian, Kenyan, and Nigerian leaders have been appointed by regional blocs in the East and Southern Africa to lead the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fighting is now raging in the east.

In an effort to bring peace to eastern DRC, where the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has seized large swathes of territory, causing a humanitarian crisis, the East African Community (ECC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have recently joined forces.

During a gathering of civilians, police officers, and former FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) members who allegedly made the decision to voluntarily join the M23 movement in Goma on February 23, 2025, a man sells juice to people standing inside a truck. &nbsp, (Photo by Michel Lunanga / AFP)

Two distinct peace processes with bases in Luanda and Nairobi that were in place prior to the most recent upheaval of violence were united under a consensus at a summit on February 8th.

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Late Monday, they issued a statement that they had appointed ex-Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta, ex-Ethiopia prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and ex-Nigeria president Olusegun Obasanjo as “facilitators” of this new peace process.

During an enrollment of civilians, police officers, and former Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) members who allegedly made the alleged voluntary M23 movement enlistment in Goma on February 23, 2025, a member of the M23 movement stands guard as passengers board a truck. (Photo by Michel Lunanga / AFP)

According to the statement, the main objectives included a “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” as well as the securitization of Goma, one of the key cities M23 entered.

A ministerial meeting between the EAC and SADC would be held on Friday to “work on the details of the ceasefire,” according to the statement.