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Regional blocs from eastern and southern Africa have appointed former leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria to oversee the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fighting has escalated in the east of the country.
The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have merged their peace initiatives, previously based in Luanda and Nairobi, to tackle the growing conflict. The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has seized significant territory, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
New Peace Facilitators
On Monday, the blocs appointed former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as facilitators of the process.
The key objectives include:
- An immediate and unconditional ceasefire
- Securing humanitarian aid
- Securitisation of Goma airport
Next Steps
A ministerial meeting is set for Friday to finalise ceasefire details. A previous call for a truce on February 8 failed to take hold, but leaders hope the new approach will bring stability to the region.
