By Kolawole Ojebisi
After two previous efforts to end the raging conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo by eminent African leaders proved futile, former Nigeria’s president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has been invited to join a team of African leaders working to end hostilities in the Central African nation.
Also in the team are former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Hailemariam Desalegn, the ex-Ethiopian prime minister.
A joint summit of leaders of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed the leaders for the peace move, merging two processes that have struggled to end the conflict.
The Luanda process, mediated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, was meant to address tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.
The Nairobi process under Kenyatta was meant to facilitate dialogue between armed groups and the DRC government under President Felix Tshisekedi. But both processes achieved little success.
A joint statement issued by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, chairperson of SADC, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, chairman of the EAC, said warring sides in the DRC Congo are now required to cease fire and attend peace talks when called upon.
Previous ceasefire calls have been ignored as the M23 rebels continue to advance into the country, meeting little resistance from the Congolese army.
The M23 fighters—which the United Nations (UN) say are backed by Rwanda—captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and took control of Bukavu in South Kivu barely two weeks ago.
Both the EAC and SADC said their key goals are an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” as well as humanitarian supplies and securitisation of the Goma airport.
