EAC should stay the course in helping sort out DRC crisis

Author: Emma Mukasa

• 2023-07-11 05:30:00

Despite the political shenanigans in Kinshasa, the East African Community should not walk away from the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With over 130 armed groups fighting each other, random attacks on civilians, ethnic intolerance, and a weak state, Congolese citizens have suffered for decades.

The regional bloc cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the chaos and wars in eastern DRC which leave many killed, displaced, and others living with no hope for tomorrow.

The problem in DRC is an EAC problem. That is why regional leaders decided to support the EAC-Led Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace and security in the east of the country.

In April 2022, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi signed the treaty of accession by his country to the EAC, making it the seventh member of the regional economic bloc.

But after that, the first regional leaders’ conclave on the DRC was held. The consultative discussions were meant to find a lasting solution to the conflict through peaceful means but also had an option of using military action to achieve the goal. During the second conclave on April 21, 2022, EAC leaders agreed to the deployment of a regional force to target armed groups that declined to heed to calls for a de-escalation of hostilities.

In December 2022, the regional bloc started to deploy its troops in eastern DRC, spending its resources to help restore peace and stability in the country.

When the troops arrived, Kinshasa’s main protagonist, M23 rebels, were seven kilometers away from Goma. In February, the rebels were nowhere near Goma as they had already handed over many territories they earlier seized to the EAC forces.

With just about six months of the EACRF presence in eastern DRC, the regional troops managed to do what had not been done by the hundreds of UN peacekeepers operating in the region for more than two decades. Swift cessation of hostilities, enhancing the protection of civilians, and ensuring the withdrawal of the M23 rebels from their positions, were some noteworthy achievements Kinshasa and its allies don’t want mentioned.

The next and final stage to achieve much-needed peace in DRC is the cantonment and disarmament of the armed groups as was initiated during the Luanda Summit of November 23, 2022.

The facilitator of the EAC-led Nairobi process, former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, on June 30, highlighted that the cantonment is a sensitive part of the peace restoration process that requires cooperation, transparency, open consultation, and stakeholder dialogue.

He said: “I believe we have done a good job so far, but a difficult one is about to begin.”

“We must ensure that all parties are adequately consulted and reach an agreement regarding this crucial stage. It is imperative to address all necessary technical and logistical matters including establishing open and indirect lines of dialogue and consultation with the armed groups we aim to canton.”

Even though the primary objectives of the Nairobi peace process are being achieved and the EAC has made huge progress in stabilizing eastern DRC, there are still sporadic cases in many areas. The regional bloc needs more time to sort out eastern DRC security challenges. The region’s problems existed for 30 years, and cannot be solved in one year.

Kinshasa threatened to expel the EAC regional force just because it did not engage in offensive operations against the M23, yet it is the only one that tried to solve eastern DRC’s conflict effectively.

It is imperative that EAC leaders don’t abandon DRC.

Whether they are welcome or not, they must stay the course in eastern DRC.

The Congolese deserve better than what they have.