Museveni Hosts AU–EAC–SADC DRC Peace Panel, Urges Faster Action on Longstanding Conflict

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday hosted leaders of the AU–EAC–SADC panel of facilitators for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace process at State House, Entebbe, in a renewed push to advance dialogue and stability in Eastern DRC.

The high-level delegation, on a working visit to Uganda, is chaired by President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo and brings together former African heads of state mandated to support regional dialogue and strengthen collective efforts toward sustainable peace in the conflict-hit region.

The panel includes former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza.

Addressing the delegation, President Museveni said the conflict in the DRC is well understood within the region and should not be allowed to persist, given its deep humanitarian and historical consequences for neighbouring countries. “This problem is very well known to us. We currently have more than 500,000 Congolese refugees in Uganda. They are part of nearly two million refugees we host from the region,” Museveni said.

He noted that many of the refugees share ethnic and cultural ties with Ugandan communities, particularly in western and south-western parts of the country. “Many of these people are members of our own tribes. Those from Congo are the same as those in western and south-western Uganda. We know this problem very well,” he added.

President Museveni expressed concern that despite the conflict’s long history and clearly identifiable grievances, progress toward a lasting solution has been slow. “It is a shame that it is taking so long to solve,” he said.

Placing the crisis in historical context, Museveni recalled earlier international debates over the future of the Congo, noting that while past discussions included the possibility of secession, the current focus is different.

“In the past, there were even discussions about breaking up Congo—the Katanga secession and all that—but luckily today, nobody is talking about breaking up Congo. What we are dealing with now are grievances,” he said.

He stressed that such grievances can be resolved through sustained dialogue and a clear understanding of realities on the ground.

Museveni welcomed the visiting panel and thanked President Gnassingbé and his colleagues for engaging on an issue that continues to affect the entire Great Lakes region. “I thank His Excellency, the President of Togo, for coming with this delegation. We are very happy to welcome you here,” Museveni said.

President Gnassingbé, in his remarks, thanked Museveni for hosting the delegation and praised Uganda’s continued commitment to regional peace and stability. “On behalf of the delegation, I would like to sincerely thank Your Excellency for the warm reception accorded to us,” Gnassingbé said.

He acknowledged Museveni’s long-standing role in regional mediation, noting that the panel values his experience and guidance in addressing complex conflicts on the continent.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo emphasised that achieving sustainable peace in Eastern DRC requires solutions grounded in African realities, cautioning against overreliance on externally driven approaches.

“This crisis is not only about the M23. There are many grievances that have not been adequately addressed,” Obasanjo said. “Solutions imported from Washington, Doha, Paris, or elsewhere may be helpful, but they cannot by themselves provide a complete or lasting solution.”

He said the panel had deliberately taken responsibility to pursue African-led responses to African challenges, while remaining open to constructive international support.

“As facilitators, we have taken it upon ourselves to find African solutions to African problems. We see President Museveni as uniquely positioned, and we are walking with him to see how these African solutions can be realised,” Obasanjo said.

He added that the role of external partners should be complementary rather than dominant. “We are not pushing away those who have shown interest—whether from Washington, Qatar, France, or elsewhere—because they are helpful in the process we are trying to advance,” he said.

Obasanjo also thanked Museveni for receiving the delegation at short notice and underscored the importance of correctly diagnosing the root causes of the DRC conflict.

“The issue that has brought us together is one we are all familiar with. It is the challenge of managing or mismanaging diversity within the DRC, and the relationship between the DRC and its neighbours,” he said. “In order to solve the problem, we must diagnose it properly and administer the right medicine.”

He welcomed the African Union’s leadership in the peace process, including the establishment of a joint headquarters in Addis Ababa, and reiterated the need for Africa to take ownership of its peace and security agenda.

The meeting was also attended by several Ugandan government officials, including ministers, Uganda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Adonia Ayebare, and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi.