President William Ruto has called for the immediate merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives into a unified African-led effort to resolve the long-running conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). President Ruto made the remarks during a joint meeting of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) peace process co-chairs at State House, Nairobi. The gathering included key facilitators appointed to guide the mediation process and implement a new framework for stability in the region.
“This was subsequent to the African Union Summit decision to merge the AU and EAC-SADC peace tracks into a single, coherent process,” President Ruto stated. “Today, we are reviewing proposals for the merger, defining facilitator mandates, and establishing a roadmap for inclusive mediation in Eastern DRC.”
Technical experts from the AU, EAC, and SADC have already submitted merger guidelines. These documents outline a plan to officially launch joint interventions under a consolidated Panel of Facilitators.
President Ruto emphasized the importance of diplomatic progress seen in recent months, particularly through the Luanda and Washington efforts. Ruto acknowledged that both initiatives had produced formal commitments from the main parties involved in the DRC crisis. “We are encouraged by the extra-regional diplomatic momentum and the structured commitments reached through the Luanda and Washington processes,” Ruto noted.
President Ruto credited DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta for their roles in facilitating dialogue. “Their leadership in reaching these commitments is commendable,” he said.
President Ruto, who co-chairs the peace talks alongside Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to stopping bloodshed in eastern Congo. Ruto said the priority remains to end hostilities, protect lives, and ensure access to humanitarian aid. “Our determination to end the conflict and suffering in DRC made progress when the regional Heads of State appointed five facilitators to lead this effort,” Ruto said.
Among those attending the meeting were African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and former president Hon Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), and Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana). Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo joined the meeting virtually.
The call for a single peace process comes amid renewed fighting in eastern DRC, where armed groups continue to threaten civilians. The African Union has supported merging the talks as a step toward building a coordinated, homegrown solution to one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
The unified approach is expected to help streamline diplomatic efforts, strengthen regional cooperation, and set clear terms for engaging rebel groups and political stakeholders in eastern Congo.
About the Author
