NAIROBI — The African Union will now lead peace negotiations in the Democratic Republic of Congo after leaders of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed to merge the Nairobi and Luanda-led peace initiatives.
The decision was announced at a high-level meeting held on Friday at State House Nairobi. The gathering brought together the co-chairs of EAC and SADC, including President William Ruto and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Former President Hon Uhuru Kenyatta, who previously led the Nairobi peace initiative was in attendance, also attended.
“We call for the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes to address the instability in the DRC,” President Ruto said during the meeting. Ruto emphasized the need for a coordinated effort under the AU’s leadership, aligning the new plan with existing frameworks, including the Doha and Washington peace accords.
The talks resolved to officially end the Uhuru-led Nairobi Process and the Luanda initiative, which was headed by Angolan President Joao Lourenço and to hand over the role to AU Chair. The African Union Commission (AUC) will now oversee the entire peace framework and will also coordinate humanitarian response efforts.
AU Chairperson Mohammoud Youssef Ali confirmed the commission’s commitment to stabilizing the eastern region of the DRC. “We will strive towards achieving lasting peace in Eastern DRC,” he said.
The change in leadership comes amid renewed violence in North Kivu province. On July 9, M23 fighters attacked farmers and civilians in the Rutshuru and Masisi regions. According to the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office, 169 people were killed in that single day, marking one of the deadliest incidents this year.
Nearly 3,000 people have died in ongoing battles between the Congolese army and M23 rebels, who have taken control of several towns in North Kivu. Humanitarian access remains restricted in conflict zones, forcing thousands to flee toward makeshift camps around Goma.
The AUC has been directed to convene a virtual extraordinary EAC-SADC joint summit within seven days. This session will formally communicate the outcomes of the Nairobi meeting and outline next steps.
President Mnangagwa recognized the contributions of peacekeeping missions deployed under EACRF and SADC mandates. “We appreciate the commitment made by both EACRF and SADC peacekeeping missions,” he said.
The AU’s involvement is expected to streamline efforts, prevent overlapping mandates, and increase diplomatic pressure on armed groups disrupting peace in the mineral-rich eastern region.
The merger of the peace processes also signals a broader continental effort to reclaim leadership in addressing conflicts within Africa’s borders. For years, peace talks around the DRC crisis have suffered from fragmentation, shifting foreign influence, and limited success on the ground.
The next AU-led summit is expected to chart a clear timeline for ceasefire enforcement, political reconciliation, and regional security coordination.
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