Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, now serving as a mediator jointly appointed by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is championing what may be the most pivotal step toward lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Inter-Congolese Dialogue.
Following a series of discreet but significant meetings with influential Congolese figures – including former president Joseph Kabila as well as Tshisekedi – Obasanjo has made his position unequivocally clear: Congolese must speak to Congolese.
Though unstated, the message was unmistakable: include the AFC-M23 in dialogue. For years, Tshisekedi has sought to demonize the group, choosing suppression over engagement, and brushing aside the legitimacy of their long-standing grievances. Instead of pursuing a path of negotiation, his regime has repeatedly cast blame on neighboring Rwanda for the protracted turmoil in the eastern region. An approach that has only deepened mistrust and prolonged suffering.
But the tide is shifting.
The pressure is mounting not just from Obasanjo, but from a chorus of respected leaders across the continent and beyond. From President Emmanuel Macron to João Lourenço, from Yoweri Museveni to William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta, the message has been uniform: Talk to your own people.
These leaders are not adversaries of Tshisekedi. On the contrary, they seek peace in the Great Lakes region and understand that sustainable solutions cannot be imposed from outside, they must be forged from within.
As Obasanjo adds his voice to the growing coalition calling for genuine dialogue, the question lingers:
Will Tshisekedi finally heed the call?
Will he choose statesmanship over stubbornness?
The time for deflection has passed. The time for dialogue is now.
ellenkampire