A number of key regional structures are set to be merged following a landmark summit co-chaired by President William Ruto on Friday, August 1.
The meeting, chaired by Presidents William Ruto and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, brought together leaders and facilitators from the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the African Union (AU) to address the deteriorating security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
One of the biggest resolutions from the summit was the immediate merger of the EAC, SADC, and AU structures into a unified system aimed at tackling the DRC crisis more effectively.
Once merged, the new structure would be governed by a joint secretariat, led by the African Union, which will be in charge of streamlining the operations of the EAC, SADC and AU.
During the meeting, the leaders also agreed to combine the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the AU Mediator and the EAC-SADC Panel of Facilitators, in a move aimed at clearly defining their responsibilities and making the mediation and facilitation process more accountable and transparent.
Another central outcome of the summit was the mobilisation of resources to support the peace process, particularly in terms of humanitarian aid. The African Union Commission (AUC) was specifically tasked with overseeing the coordination of resources to ensure a swift response to the needs of civilians affected by the DRC conflict.
The leaders further emphasised the need for a unified African approach to the DRC crisis, urging the AUC to ensure that stakeholders and peace initiatives align with the new African-led peace process.
In addition to President Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, the event was attended by former Heads of State Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), and Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana).
Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has persisted for decades, with regional organisations such as the EAC, SADC, and AU all making efforts to resolve the crisis over the years. The EAC has been directly involved in the mediation process through the Nairobi Process, which was launched in 2022.
SADC, meanwhile, has attempted to quell tensions in the DRC by focusing on humanitarian assistance and diplomatic engagement, while the AUC has sought to facilitate dialogue over the years, though without much considerable success.
Following the meeting in Nairobi on Friday, there is a strong belief that merging these bodies will address accountability more effectively, as the three have previously operated in parallel.
The meeting also approved key documents, including a framework to merge the Nairobi and Luanda Processes, and a plan for an inclusive mediation process.
Another joint EAC-SADC summit is set to be convened within the next seven days to communicate the outcomes of the Nairobi meeting to member states and other stakeholders involved.
