EAC-SADC summit picks five-member team for DRC mediation

The second joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has appointed an expanded panel of five peace facilitators to lead mediation efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The virtual summit, held on Monday, March 24, 2025, brought together regional leaders to discuss the security crisis in eastern DRC and approve measures aimed at restoring stability.

The newly appointed panel includes former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza.

Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who was previously involved in mediation efforts, was left out of the new team.

“The appointment of this panel reflects our commitment to ensuring a balanced and effective mediation process,” the summit communiqué stated.

The leaders emphasized that the facilitators were selected based on their experience, regional representation, and inclusivity in gender and language.

The summit reviewed reports from joint EAC-SADC ministers and defense chiefs, detailing immediate, medium-term, and long-term strategies to stabilize eastern DRC.

The leaders adopted a roadmap for implementation and directed all relevant parties to act swiftly.

The co-chairs of the summit, Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, were tasked with convening a briefing session with the facilitators within the next seven days.

The session will involve officials from the EAC, SADC, and the African Union.

The summit also acknowledged previous resolutions from the African Union and the United Nations Security Council, which had urged a collective approach to addressing the DRC crisis.

“The security situation in eastern DRC requires urgent and coordinated intervention,” the leaders affirmed.

The EAC and SADC secretariats were directed to formally notify the facilitators of their appointment and to update the African Union and the UN Security Council on the summit’s resolutions.

In closing, the summit expressed gratitude to the chairpersons of EAC and SADC for their leadership and commended the secretariats for their role in preparing for the meeting.