ZIMBABWE’S emergence as a pivotal diplomatic player in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace process is a resounding affirmation of the country’s growing influence in regional affairs. Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, who currently chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Zimbabwe has adopted a proactive and principled stance in addressing one of Africa’s most protracted and complex conflicts.President Mnangagwa’s visit to Kenya for high-level consultations with President William Ruto of the East African Community (EAC) marks a significant step towards inter-regional co-operation. The two leaders co-chaired a landmark joint SADC-EAC initiative aimed at harmonising peace efforts in eastern DRC, a region plagued by violence from armed groups such as the M23, which has displaced thousands and destabilised communities.
Central to this initiative is the formation of a distinguished panel of eminent African statespersons, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia.Kenyan President William RutoThis panel is tasked with facilitating dialogue among conflicting parties and overseeing the implementation of ceasefire agreements under the now-merged Luanda and Nairobi processes.President Mnangagwa’s leadership has already yielded tangible results. In January 2025, he hosted an Extraordinary SADC Summit in Harare, where member states agreed to deploy defence ministers and military chiefs to assess the situation on the ground and support the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC). The summit also called for enhanced humanitarian assistance and reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.
Furthermore, the February 2025 Joint EAC-SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam, co-chaired by Presidents Mnangagwa and Ruto, laid the groundwork for a unified African response. It directed the immediate implementation of a comprehensive roadmap for peace, including the reopening of humanitarian corridors, the restoration of critical infrastructure, and the demilitarisation of key areas such as Goma.What distinguishes Zimbabwe’s approach is its unwavering commitment to African-led solutions. President Mnangagwa has consistently emphasised that peace in the DRC — and across the continent — must be achieved through African unity, dialogue, and mutual respect.
His call for a joint SADC-EAC summit was not only timely but visionary, recognising that regional conflicts require regional solidarity and home-grown solutions. This assertive leadership is not without its challenges. The DRC conflict is deeply rooted in historical grievances, competition over natural resources, and foreign interference.
Yet, Zimbabwe’s diplomatic engagement offers a compelling model of how African nations can transcend narrow interests to pursue collective peace and stability.The international community must support these African-led efforts — not by imposing external solutions, but by reinforcing the frameworks already established. Zimbabwe’s role, under President Mnangagwa’s guidance, deserves recognition for its clarity of purpose and steadfast commitment to lasting peace. The country is demonstrating that principled, co-ordinated diplomacy can indeed make a profound and lasting difference.Share on FacebookPost on XFollow usSave
Originally published on Zimbabwe Herald
Source: Zimbabwe Herald
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