Facilitator friction: SADC nudges back on Kenya's lead role in DRC mediation
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) urged a broader and more inclusive panel of peace facilitators—effectively pushing back on an earlier list circulated by President William Ruto.
Kenya's ambitions to shape the peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have met subtle resistance, as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) urged a broader and more inclusive panel of peace facilitators—effectively pushing back on an earlier list circulated by President William Ruto.
While the joint EAC-SADC ministerial meeting in Harare stopped short of naming individuals or openly criticising Kenya's unilateral moves, the communique's call for "an expanded panel of facilitators" signals discomfort with Nairobi's assertive diplomacy and perceived dominance in steering the Nairobi-Luanda process merger.
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In February, Ruto prematurely released a draft facilitator list featuring former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
The letter carried both EAC and SADC insignias—without formal SADC approval—a move that reportedly stirred unease within the Southern bloc.
Now, SADC is advocating for "regional balance" and gender inclusion, with Kinshasa proposing former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde as an alternative to Desalegn, who is viewed in some quarters as too aligned with Kigali.
The implication is clear: the existing list lacks consensus, and Nairobi may need to recalibrate its approach.
The facilitator debate hints at broader geopolitical dynamics.
Kenya is keen to entrench its role in continental diplomacy, while SADC insists on process, consultation, and balance.
The Harare meeting, aimed at unifying mediation tracks, has instead highlighted how regional rivalries can complicate the very goal of African solutions to African problems.
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