Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and three other former heads of state have been appointed to lead joint peace talks seeking a lasting solution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Uhuru's appointment follows a meeting of the Joint Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) on Monday, February 24.

According to a statement shared by President William Ruto, the Chairperson of the EAC, former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo and Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, were also appointed as facilitators for the joint peace talks.

The three will oversee the EAC-SADC peace process, which has merged the Luanda and Nairobi processes in eastern DRC. The heads of state, in their statement, emphasised the need for a continued ceasefire in the DRC, urging all actors to keep their guns silent.

President William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta. PHOTO/ Uhuru Kenyatta.

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“Considering the above developments, all actors are urged to observe the ceasefire announced by the EAC-SADC Summit, and the M23 and all other actors are called upon to cease any further advancements in eastern DRC and to observe and abide by an immediate ceasefire,” the statement reads in part.

The Nairobi Peace Process, launched in April 2022 under the EAC, was intended to end hostilities in eastern DRC by facilitating dialogue between the Congolese government and various armed groups, including the M23 rebels.

Led by Uhuru, the process initially made progress, with ceasefires brokered and commitments made towards disarmament. However, as violence escalated and regional tensions deepened, the initiative struggled to maintain momentum, leading to its eventual collapse.

The talks stalled due to a combination of political distractions, military withdrawals, and a lack of commitment from key stakeholders. By mid-2023, attention in the DRC had shifted towards the December general elections, sidelining the peace process. 

Simultaneously, the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from the EAC Regional Force weakened security efforts, creating a power vacuum that emboldened armed groups. Despite repeated calls from Uhuru and international mediators, the Congolese government failed to re-engage fully in negotiations, further diminishing hopes of a diplomatic resolution.

Initiated in the same year, the Luanda Peace Process aimed to defuse escalating tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, particularly addressing the insurgency of the M23 rebel group in eastern DRC. Mediated by Angolan President João Lourenço under the African Union's auspices, the initiative sought to foster dialogue and implement ceasefires to stabilise the conflict-ridden region.

However, the process faced setbacks. A crucial summit scheduled for December 15, 2024, was abruptly cancelled after negotiations reached an impasse. The primary sticking point was Rwanda's insistence that the DRC engage in direct talks with the M23 rebels, a condition Kinshasa firmly rejected, labelling the group as terrorists.

The peace talks are taking place as the human toll in the conflict continues to rise. Reports indicate that since January, over 7,000 people have been killed due to the conflict.

Approximately 450,000 individuals have been displaced, with nearly 90 displacement camps destroyed. There have also been alarming reports of human rights abuses, including summary executions, sexual violence, and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Current President William Ruto shaking hands with former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the consecration of Bishop Peter Kamau in Embu on Saturday, November 16 2024

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