Uganda's Foreign Affairs Minister Highlights Need for Mediation in Eastern DRC Crisis

On July 15, Uganda's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Mulimba, attended a Virtual Ministerial Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council. The meeting focused on the escalating situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly the role of mediation and reconciliation in conflict resolution in eastern DRC, building on discussions from the 1157th meeting held on June 13.

Mulimba congratulated the Peace and Security Council Chair for effective session management and expressed gratitude for addressing the significant agenda item concerning the DRC. He extended congratulations to Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner on her appointment as DRC's Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressing eagerness for close collaboration.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, Mulimba raised concerns about the escalating tensions in eastern DRC and their detrimental impact on the population and region. He reflected on the conflict's complex history, marked by misjudgments, external interference, and inadequate implementation of key agreements such as the 2009 Agreement, the Nairobi Declarations of 2013, and the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region. Mulimba acknowledged positive outcomes from collaborative efforts, notably between President Tshisekedi and Uganda in addressing the ADF issue.

Emphasizing the intricate nature of the conflict in the Great Lakes region, Mulimba cited issues related to ethnicity, citizenship, regional and external actors' roles, economic exploitation, and youth unemployment. He pointed out that "ideological confusion" imported by various actors exacerbates the strife through exclusionary politics.

Stressing the limitations of military solutions, Mulimba underscored the importance of political approaches. He highlighted the 2022 Nairobi process, initiated by the EAC Heads of State and Government, which includes a two-track approach emphasizing the political track to address grievances. He commended former President Uhuru Kenyatta for his efforts and called for technical support from the Commission for both the Luanda and Nairobi processes.

Mulimba praised João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, for his leadership and engagement with both the DRC and Rwanda. He noted the significance of the Mini Summit in February, where President Tshisekedi expressed readiness for direct talks with President Kagame, and supported the call for a follow-up meeting to resolve the matter. He also welcomed the two-week humanitarian truce in eastern DRC under the Luanda process, effective from July 5, and supported its indefinite extension beyond July 19.

In his concluding remarks, Mulimba emphasized the need to address the root causes and structural drivers of youth participation in violence through socio-economic empowerment programmes. He called on the parties to the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework to implement their commitments and urged EAC member states to respect and implement decisions from previous summits to restore peace and security in eastern DRC. He highlighted the importance of immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities to create an environment conducive to peaceful conflict resolution and encouraged all stakeholders in the DRC to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, ensuring the participation of women, youth, and community leaders.

Mulimba expressed support for efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation and called on the Commission, capable Member States, and the international community to intensify their humanitarian efforts. He endorsed the alignment and harmonization of regional processes to address the strategic problems of the DRC and the region. Finally, he advocated for the launch of the political component of the Nairobi Process, involving an inclusive inter-community dialogue in eastern DRC facilitated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in collaboration with the AU Commission.

The meeting aimed to explore ways of strengthening regional cooperation to promote stability and security in the Great Lakes region, focusing on mediation processes aimed at reducing armed violence and initiating dialogue. The outcomes include strengthening the commitment of PSC Member States to peaceful conflict resolution, political support for DDR initiatives, and harmonisation of regional and international efforts to stabilise eastern DRC and promote sustainable development.