The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has pushed back against Kenya’s preferred list of peace facilitators for the DRC mediation process, calling for a broader, more inclusive panel. This indicates SADC’s discomfort with Kenya’s assertiveness and a need for regional balance and gender inclusion in negotiations. The situation reveals underlying geopolitical rivalries complicating the mediation efforts.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for a wider and more inclusive group of peace facilitators, subtly resisting Kenya’s proposed leadership in negotiation efforts concerning the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a joint ministerial meeting of the Eastern African Community (EAC) and SADC in Harare, this was conveyed through a statement urging an “expanded panel of facilitators,” indicating discomfort with Kenya’s dominant role in the peace process despite not naming individuals or criticizing Kenya directly.
In February, President William Ruto prematurely introduced a list of facilitators which included prominent figures such as former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, along with former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. This list bore insignias from both EAC and SADC but lacked formal approval from SADC, leading to unease within the regional body. Currently, SADC advocates for enhanced “regional balance” and gender inclusion in the mediation process, with the Congolese government suggesting former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde as a replacement for Desalegn, who is seen as too supportive of Kigali.
The call for a more inclusive facilitator panel underscores a lack of consensus on the original list, suggesting that Kenya must reevaluate its diplomatic strategy. Additionally, this debate over facilitation reflects wider geopolitical tensions, with Kenya aiming to bolster its influence in continental diplomacy while SADC emphasizes the need for collaboration and balanced representation. The Harare meeting, while intended to unify mediation efforts, has brought to light how regional rivalries can hinder achieving the overarching goal of African solutions to African problems.
In conclusion, the SADC’s call for a larger and more inclusive group of peace facilitators demonstrates a subtle resistance to Kenya’s initial leadership role in the DRC peace mediation process. The emphasis on regional balance and the inclusion of diverse voices, including gender considerations, highlights the need to reassess diplomatic approaches to ensure consensus among all stakeholders. This situation reflects broader geopolitical dynamics within African diplomacy, emphasizing the necessity for cooperation in addressing regional conflicts effectively.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
