The EAC-SADC Summit on the DRC crisis on Saturday directed the merger of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, and the resumption of direct negotiations and dialogue between Kinshasa and M23 and other non-state actors within the merged process.
The regional leaders noted that the two process were both critical, resolving to strengthen them individually to “enhance complementarity”.
Following the summit’s consideration of the EAC and SADC ministerial meeting held on Friday, the regional leaders noted that political and diplomatic engagement was the most suitable solution to the DRC. conflict.
In his opening remarks, President William Ruto, who is the EAC chairman, said there is no military solution to the DRC conflict.
“We must resist the temptation to think that we can somehow shoot and bombard our way into a solution into such a complex situation. Instead, we have to agree that only a comprehensive, diplomatic approach, one that addresses the root causes of the crisis, secures the historical integrity and territorial integrity of DRC and affirms the sovereignty of his people and their aspirations for freedom, justice and development,” Ruto said.
President Ruto had also proposed that the regional blocs work on a “fused, single and coherent initiative” towards the resolution of the complex DRC crisis.
“Such an approach will bring together all our assets together and minimize the possibility of parallel initiatives that duplicate and undermine progress, including creating unnecessary competition as we strive for peace,” Ruto said.
At the 24th Extraordinary EAC Summit on the DRC, Rwanda President Paul Kagame regretted that the Nairobi and Luanda processes had become an end in themselves, and their facilitators became more important than the results of the processes.
“The Nairobi Process became an Uhuru Process, the Luanda Process is like you cannot say anything that will displease President Lourenço,” Kagame, who walked out of the Luanda process last year, said.
In consultation with the African Union, the summit mandated the co-chairs of the two processes — former President Uhuru Kenyatta for the Nairobi process and Angola President João Lourenço for the Luanda process — to consider and appoint additional facilitators, including from other African regions to support the merged processes.
In his report to the joint summit, Uhuru, who is the EAC peace facilitator, had called for the resumption of the Nairobi process, which he regretted had been sidelined.
“The Nairobi Process, though “temporarily sidelined”, and the Luanda process are still critical frameworks for dialogue and conflict resolution in the eastern DRC,” Uhuru said.
He added that he remained committed to finding pathways to peace, in collaboration with the government of the DRC, regional partners, and international stakeholders.
“However, the recent resurgence of hostilities highlights the urgent need for renewed political will, regional cooperation, and sustained support for peace efforts to avoid further deterioration of the security situation,” he said.
For a solution to be found, Uhuru said, the DRC and Rwanda needed to return to the negotiation table, alluding to the Launda process, while at the same time “ensuring the internal dynamics of people and politics in the eastern DRC are managed and directed to a path of peace and reconciliation.”
The AU-led 2022 Luanda Process is aimed at defusing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, while the EAC-led Nairobi process seeks to engage all stakeholders, including the DRC government, armed groups,the civil society, and the international community in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and negotiation.
STALLING OF NAIROBI PROCESS
Among the reasons Uhuru noted led to the stalling of the Nairobi process included the domestic politics in the DRC ahead of the December 2023 elections and the expulsion of the EAC Regional Force.
He regretted that as the 4th Intra-Congolese Dialogue Conference was set to take place in June 2023, political attention shifted towards the presidential elections, slowing down the process.
“Unfortunately, at the same time a political impasse resulted in the withdrawal of the Kenyan forces from EACRF,” Uhuru said.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi expelled the EACRF forces, accusing them of ‘cohabiting’ with rebels after the regional troops declined to engage M23 militarily in combat.
Uhuru in his communication said the suspension of EACRF disrupted the momentum of the peace process, and a breakdown in military cooperation and ultimately a resurgence of fighting in the EASTERN DRC.
He added that the Nairobi Process was structured around the two elements of political dialogue and military intervention, with EACRF providing peacekeeping and peace enforcement support, while complementing dialogue efforts.
“Despite efforts to maintain dialogue, including consultations between the facilitator, President Tshisekedi of DRC and the M23 leadership, the political and security landscape in the DRC became increasingly unstable,” Uhuru added.
And even after President Tshisekedi won re-election, Uhuru said
the formation of a new government delayed the resumption of the process.
“While engagements with key stakeholders continued, the lack of political momentum, coupled with renewed hostilities in North Kivu and South Kivu has significantly undermined the progress made in 2022-23,” he said.
OTHER DIRECTIVES
The joint summit directed the EAC-SADC chiefs of Defence Forces to meet within five days and provide technical direction on among other issues, immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, humanitarian assistance, including repatriating of the deceased and evacuation of the dead, develop a securitization plan for Goma and opening of the main supply route, the reopening of Goma Airport and advise on other related facilitative interventions.
In move seen to balance the positions of Rwanda and DRC, the summit called for the implementation of the plan to neutralize the FDLR forces and the withdrawal of Rwanda troops from the DRC as agreed in the Luanda process.
There will also be a joint meeting or the two bloc’s ministers within a month to discuss the report of the military chiefs, the establishment of a technical mechanism to monitor implementation of the summit decisions and the financing modalities for the implementation process.
