Following their private meeting, the two Heads of State convened with the African Unionâ€"appointed Panel of Experts, comprising former African leaders: former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza.
According to the Office of the President, the talks focused on the "security situation in eastern DRC, the progress of ongoing diplomatic engagements, and ways to strengthen coordination between regional and continental mediation efforts to advance peace, security, and stability in the Great Lakes region."
The Panel of Experts was established in March 2025 through the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes, creating a unified framework to harmonise efforts among stakeholders addressing the crisis in eastern DRC. Its mandate includes guiding peace negotiations between the Congolese government and armed groups, including the M23 and other factions active in the region.
The merged peace process prioritises the implementation of previously agreed measures, such as the disarmament of the FDLR militia, a militia group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The regional efforts are complemented by international support from countries including Qatar and the United States, aimed at restoring stability in the region.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
