The adoption of key documentsâ€"including the framework for merging the Nairobi and Luanda processes and the terms of reference for the five-member panelâ€"is a positive sign that diplomatic architecture is being laid. However, despite this progress, the most pressing challenge continues to loom large: the question of leadership.
Diplomacy without direction risks becoming ineffective. And in the case of the DRC, the number of overlapping peace initiativesâ€"from the EAC and SADC to the AU, and now the Washington and Doha processesâ€"only amplifies that risk. What the region urgently needs is not just a flurry of well-intentioned summits and communiqués, but a clearly defined and recognized leadership structure that can unify these fragmented efforts.
The newly appointed Panel of Facilitators, endorsed by both the EAC and SADC, could serve as a foundation for that leadership. Yet, their ability to coordinate, influence, and command legitimacy across diverse regional and international stakeholders will depend entirely on the political will of all parties involved. In the absence of clear agreement on who leads and how, diplomatic efforts could quickly become counterproductiveâ€"duplicated processes, competing agendas, and inefficient use of scarce resources.
This is not just a technical challenge; it is a deeply political one. Countries and institutions often find it difficult to relinquish influence or defer to another process, even when doing so is in the collective interest. However, the cost of fragmented diplomacy is high. Prolonged conflict in eastern Congo continues to result in immense human suffering, displacement, and economic stagnation. The people of the region cannot afford the luxury of egos at the negotiation table.
If these peace processes are to bear fruit, they must align under a single, coherent strategy, guided by a clearly mandated and empowered institution. This does not mean sidelining existing efforts, but rather building upon them in a structured and coordinated manner. The merger of the Nairobi and Luanda processes into one framework is an encouraging signâ€"but it must be more than symbolic. It must lead to genuine synergy, where each initiative complements rather than competes with the other.
Furthermore, international partnersâ€"especially those driving the Washington and Doha processesâ€"must recognize and support the primacy of African-led solutions. Their involvement should reinforce, not redefine, the strategy adopted by the leading regional body.
In conclusion, the peace process in eastern DRC is at a critical juncture. Diplomatic tools are being sharpened, facilitators appointed, frameworks drafted. Yet, unless the leadership question is urgently and decisively addressed, even the best-laid plans will falter. What is needed now is not more processes, but more unity of purposeâ€"and leadership to make that possible.
The author, Dr. Charles Kiiza is a University Don teaching Diplomacy and International Relations at the University of Rwanda.
Dr. Charles Kiiza
