African regional blocs appoint mediators over crisis in DR Congo

KINSHASA - Three former African leaders have been appointed as facilitators of the latest regional mediation mechanism brokered by two regional blocs over the security crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a statement released late Monday.

The East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) jointly announced that they have designated former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn as the facilitators of their joint peace process in the DRC.

On Feb 8, the EAC and the SADC held a joint summit, proposed merging the Nairobi Process, an EAC-initiated mechanism led by Kenyatta, with the Luanda Process, a parallel peace mechanism initiated by the African Union and brokered by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

Both peace mechanisms have faced setbacks. The Nairobi Process has reached an "impasse", according to a statement issued by Kenyatta's spokesperson Kanze Dena. A peace summit under the Luanda Process was abruptly canceled at the last minute in late December.

The two regional blocs also announced a ministerial meeting scheduled on Feb. 28, while calling on the March 23 Movement (M23), a rebel group that has captured multiple major cities in the DRC, to cease any further advancements and abide by an immediate ceasefire.

The M23 rebels have captured numerous cities and townships, including Goma and Bukavu, the capital cities of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, respectively.

The mineral-rich eastern DRC remains a hotspot of conflict, with various groups vying for control over resources such as coltan, tin, tantalum, and gold.

More than 400,000 Congolese, mainly women and children, have arrived in neighboring Burundi since February for international protection, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported on Friday. In North Kivu, over 500,000 people were forced to flee their homes in January alone.