Former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Ethiopia’s former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn have been appointed as facilitators of the new peace process for DR Congo, which is faces security crisis as a result of the ongoing conflict between the Congolese armed forces and the AFC/M23 rebels.

The process, which resulted from the February 8 joint summit of leaders of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), merged the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes, which had been initiated in 2022.

ALSO READ: EAC-SADC leaders urge for political solution to silence the guns in eastern DR Congo

The EAC-SADC summit called for cessation of hostilities in eastern DR Congo and direct peace talks between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebels, who have captured the key cities of Goma and Bukavu since late January.

Kenya’s President Willam Ruto, who chairs the EAC, announced the appointment of the facilitators on Monday, February 24, when EAC and SADC chiefs of defence forces met in Dar es Salam ahead of a meeting of ministers from the two blocs on Friday.

ALSO READ: Museveni reiterates call for Tshisekedi to ‘speak directly’ with M23 rebels

"All actors are urged to observe the ceasefire announced by the EAC-SADC Summit, and the M23 and all other actors are called upon to cease any further advancements in Eastern DRC and to observe and abide by an immediate ceasefire,” Ruto said.

"The Joint EAC-SADC process is actively seized of the peace process in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.”