By OPCS Press Service
HARARE – There is a need for renewed and concerted efforts towards addressing the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said.
Mudavadi stated that the security situation remains fragile, with the conflict escalating and rapidly mutating into other forms of threats to human security and dignity, such as sexual exploitation, abuse, and gender-based violence as a mode of war, illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources, and the erosion of state institutions and authority.
The Prime CS, who is the EAC Council of Ministers Chair, was speaking in Harare, Zimbabwe, where he co-chaired the joint ministerial meeting for the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to assess progress made on the implementation of the February 2025 resolutions adopted in Dar es Salaam by the Heads of State and Government on the fluid humanitarian and security situation in eastern DRC.
“The directive by the Heads of State and Government to merge the Luanda and Nairobi processes calls for EAC and SADC to consider accelerating a unified process to avoid duplication of outcomes geared towards the same goal. We need to fast-track the immediate, medium, and long-term implementation measures, including resource and finance mobilisation capacities aimed at supporting the peace process,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi regretted that several illegal armed groups, including local and foreign militias, have continuously precipitated protracted insecurity and the displacement of populations. He emphasised that all parties must converge at the negotiating table, as dialogue remains the most viable option for achieving sustainable peace in DRC.
“The rising humanitarian toll calls for urgent regional and international intervention to prevent further suffering and displacement. It is high time the consolidation and adoption of key resolutions take place before the situation further spirals out of control,” said Mudavadi.
“There is a need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire as a precursor to the ongoing peace initiatives, since all warring factions must be willing to engage in dialogue in search of a lasting solution,” added Mudavadi.
Monday’s ministerial meeting deliberated on, among other issues, the report by the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defence following the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam meetings, and addressed other residual matters related to the attainment of sustainable peace and security in eastern DRC.
Mudavadi presented Kenya’s position, advocating for a non-partisan, non-coercive, and collective process based on diplomatic and political initiatives, collectively driven by African leadership.
“As we look into the future, we need to establish mechanisms through which African problems and challenges receive African solutions via Africa-led processes. Many other countries outside Africa have now shown clear signs that they are focusing on their own issues, and this is a wake-up call for Africa,” noted Mudavadi.
“We should uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of DRC, including minimising the influence of external actors, such as the involvement of mercenaries and foreign militaries, and the imposition of unilateral sanctions by the West against Rwanda, which undermines the authority of regional organisations, including the AU, EAC, SADC, and even the UN,” he added.
He stated that the EAC and SADC joint efforts recognise the need for the international community to support regional and continental initiatives to restore peace and stability in eastern DRC, but that this support should align strictly with the framework adopted under the ongoing new initiative.
He urged the ministers to support United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2773, adopted by the Security Council at its 9865th meeting on 21 February 2025, which, among other points, endorses regional efforts, including those by the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In particular, it acknowledges the high-level meetings and efforts under the Luanda and Nairobi mediation processes.
He highlighted the AU’s request to establish a Joint AU/EAC/SADC Coordination Mechanism to provide technical support to enhance, coordinate, and complement the Luanda and Nairobi Processes, in close collaboration with other concerned Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).
“I commend the African Union for endorsing the communiqué of the Joint EAC-SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government convened on 8 February 2025 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; the communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held on 31 January 2025; and the communiqué of the 24th Extraordinary Summit of the East Africa Community Heads of State on the recent developments in eastern DRC held on 29 January 2025. In this, we are looking at the support from the AU, particularly in resource mobilisation capacities and mechanisms for accessing peace funds to support the process,” noted Mudavadi.
The Harare meeting resolved that there is an urgent need to finalise the appointment of an expanded panel of facilitators to aid in the ongoing process, with former African leaders being proposed, including ex-Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, to lead regional peace efforts.
There was also a call for the inclusion of a fourth facilitator from the SADC bloc, with consideration for gender balance by recommending a female leader to join the existing list ahead of ratification by the Heads of State Summit scheduled for 31 March 2025.
