Kenya has joined fellow East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states in calling for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the conflict-prone eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Kenya urges all stakeholders to come to the negotiation table to facilitate a return to normalcy in the DRC.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi emphasized that continuous warfare will not resolve the crisis, advocating for dialogue as the only sustainable solution.

“Peace is not like instant coffee; you cannot brew it instantly. As EAC and SADC, we have a golden opportunity to help the people of the DRC,” Mudavadi stated during a ministerial meeting in Dar es Salaam on the DRC conflict.

The Need for Urgent Peace Initiatives

Mudavadi stressed that securing peace in Eastern DRC is crucial not only for the country itself but also for the stability of the entire region and Africa as a whole.

“Conflicts in one region can rapidly escalate and destabilize the entire world. We must act now to restore security and prevent further humanitarian crises,” he warned.

He also condemned recent attacks on peace missions in the DRC, calling them a violation of multilateral collective security principles.

The Humanitarian Crisis and Growing Threats

Mudavadi lamented the devastating humanitarian toll of the prolonged conflict, which has resulted in millions of deaths and mass displacement of civilians. Women, children, and persons with disabilities bearing the brunt of violence, Escalating human rights violations, including sexual exploitation and gender-based violence as weapons of war, Illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources fueling the war economy and Weakening state institutions, further eroding governance structures.

EAC and SADC’s Coordinated Peace Efforts

Mudavadi, who chairs the EAC Foreign Ministers caucus, co-chaired the Friday meeting with Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. Amon Murwira, the SADC Council of Ministers Chairperson.

The discussions set the stage for Saturday’s Heads of State and Government Summit, where President William Ruto will represent Kenya.

Mudavadi called for harmonizing the AU-led Luanda Process and the EAC-led Nairobi Process to avoid overlapping peace efforts and improve coordination.

“A joint approach is critical in eliminating inefficiencies and ensuring effective peace initiatives in Eastern DRC,” he explained.

The Importance of Restoring Peace in DRC

Mudavadi emphasized that regional stability and economic growth in EAC and SADC depend on a peaceful DRC.

“What is happening in DRC should alarm all of us. Insecurity in one part of the world should be seen as insecurity for all. This ministerial meeting and the upcoming summit must provide a clear direction for achieving lasting peace,” he noted.

Kenya believes that stabilizing the DRC will help Africa overcome the menace of mercenaries and foreign fighters, whose activities undermine peace and security efforts across the continent.

Historical Context of the Eastern DRC Conflict

The conflict in Eastern DRC has persisted for decades, with roots tracing back to pre-1994. Over time, violence has intensified, involving numerous armed groups, including:

• Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
• Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)
• Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)
• Red Tabara

In 2012-2013, around 35 local armed groups were active in Eastern DRC. This number has since skyrocketed to over 150 groups, particularly in North and South Kivu provinces.

Despite various interventions at the regional, continental, and United Nations levels, results have been mixed, underscoring the urgency for a fresh and unified peace approach.