DRC-Rwanda crisis: ‘The discussions are on the right track’ (Facilitator Obasanjo)

Kinshasa, June 26^th, 2025 (CPA). – The discussions to resolve through diplomatic channels the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are on the right track, has declared the former president of Nigeria and one of the facilitators appointed by the African heads of state to resolve the crisis, who was received on Wednesday at the African Union headquarter in Kinshasa, the capital, according to the Congolese Presidency.  ‘We are exploring all the possibilities regarding the situation between Rwanda and DRC so that there will be no more military confrontation and violence. The discussions I have had with my two brothers from Rwanda and DRC are on the right track,’ has indicated Olusegun Obasanjo, coming out of the talk of more than an hour with President Felix Tshisekedi. Olusegun Obasanjo, who is one of the designated facilitators of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in resolving the security crisis in eastern DRC, was returning from Rwanda. He then plans to travel to Togo to meet with the AU’s designated mediator, the source has pointed out.  « We have a mediator appointed by the African Union in the person of Faure Gnassingbe, President of the Togolese Council of Ministers. I am going to Lome to report to him and see what needs to be done to achieve lasting peace in the region, » he has added.  Furthermore, the former Nigerian President has expressed his appreciation for all the peace initiatives currently underway, including those of the United States of America and Qatar. ‘We take note of this,’ he has said.  DRC and Rwanda are preparing to sign a peace agreement on Friday in the United States of America, under the mediation of the American authorities.  Last March 24^th, during their second joint summit, attended by President Felix Tshisekedi, the EAC and the SADC had decided to appoint five former African heads of state as regional facilitators for the resolution of the security crisis in eastern DRC.  These include Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Ms. Catherine Samba Panza of the Central African Republic and Mr. Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. The choice of these personalities, according to the statement issued for this purpose, was made on the basis of gender, regional and linguistic representation criteria. ACP/