The East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have expanded their mediation team for the ongoing Congo conflict, reinforcing efforts to broker peace between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the M23 rebels, and Rwanda.
In a virtual meeting on Monday, the two regional blocs appointed additional former heads of state to strengthen the negotiations. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and ex-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo remain on the team, while former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde replaces Hailemariam Desalegn. The team now also includes former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and ex-Central African Republic leader Catherine Samba-Panza.
A communique issued after the summit stated that the expansion aimed to improve “gender, regional, and language inclusivity” in the mediation process.
The development follows Angola’s decision to step back from the negotiations, citing other priorities as the current chair of the African Union (AU). Angola’s presidency stated that it needed to refocus on broader continental issues, including peace, infrastructure, and economic development, while also pointing to failed talks and external interference as reasons for its withdrawal.
Despite the mediation efforts, tensions in eastern DRC remain high. On Monday, the M23 rebels reneged on an earlier commitment to withdraw from Walikale, a key town they had seized, alleging that the Congolese army continued its offensive in the area. The move is seen as another setback in the fragile peace process.
With the expanded mediation team now in place, EAC and SADC hope to reinvigorate the stalled talks and push for a sustainable resolution to the long-running conflict.
