A delegation of former African heads of state met AFC/M23’s political and military leadership as part of African Union-led efforts to advance a peaceful settlement to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting took place in Goma and brought together former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde. The three are members of the African Union panel assigned to support mediation over the eastern DRC conflict.
AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa received the delegation alongside senior members of the movement, including Bertrand Bisimwa and Freddy Kaniki. Discussions focused on the peace process and the security situation in eastern DRC.
The visit brought members of the AU facilitation team into direct engagement with AFC/M23 as the continental body continued consultations with parties involved in the conflict.
The full panel consists of five former African leaders: Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. It works alongside Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé, who was designated by the AU to lead mediation efforts on the eastern DRC crisis.
Samba-Panza was not part of the delegation that travelled to Goma, with reports indicating that she was unable to participate for health reasons.
Obasanjo was also absent from the Goma delegation. The African Union had recently asked him, in his role as its High Representative for the Horn of Africa, to engage parties involved in renewed tensions in northern Ethiopia and support efforts to restore dialogue.
The Goma engagement came as the AU panel continued implementing a six-month roadmap designed to give greater coordination to mediation efforts in eastern DRC.
The roadmap covers political engagement, military and security issues, humanitarian access, dialogue with armed groups, regional economic cooperation, natural resources and the participation of civil society, women and youth.
The AU has also sought to coordinate its mediation with the Washington and Doha processes, rather than having the different diplomatic tracks operate separately. The facilitators are expected to support engagement with the parties and follow up on commitments reached through the various peace initiatives.
The meeting with AFC/M23 therefore formed part of a wider effort by the African Union to maintain direct contact with parties to the conflict while seeking progress towards a political settlement and improved security in eastern DRC.
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