AU To Coordinate With EAC and SADC in Finding Lasting Solutions To DR Congo’s War

The African Union (AU) is coordinating efforts with the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to find lasting solutions to the war in eastern DR Congo.

In this regard, the
EAC, SADC and African Union Commission (AUC) have agreed to merge their technical secretariats into a single joint body to coordinate peace efforts in conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

They reached this decision during a high-level meeting in Nairobi on Friday, August 1, 2025.

The meeting was co-chaired by President William Ruto of Kenya, representing the EAC, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, representing SADC.

The newly formed joint secretariat, to be led by the AUC and based in Addis Ababa, will operationalise a unified African-led mediation structure aimed at restoring stability in eastern DRC.

The move consolidates the mandates of the AU Mediator and the EAC-SADC Panel of Facilitators, which includes former heads of state Olusegun Obasanjo, Uhuru Kenyatta, Catherine Samba-Panza, Sahle-Work Zewde and Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The panel will report jointly to the EAC-SADC Summit and the African Union.

The eastern DRC has endured decades of armed conflict, fuelled by ethnic tensions, competition over mineral resources and the presence of over 100 armed groups.

Despite multiple peace initiatives – including the Nairobi and Luanda Processes –
violence has persisted, displacing millions and destabilising the broader Great Lakes region.

The Nairobi meeting also endorsed a resource Mobilisation Strategy and a process for inclusive mediation, signalling a shift towards streamlined coordination and accountability.

The AUC will oversee humanitarian support and funding efforts while urging all stakeholders to align with the unified African-led approach.

An Extraordinary Virtual Joint Summit will be convened within seven days to formally communicate the outcomes and the AUC will relay the resolutions to all AU Member States.

Source:Africa Publicity