The peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider Great Lakes region continues to be shaped by a crowded and shifting diplomatic field. African institutions – including the African Union, regional economic communities and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region – are striving to define their strategic value in this mix and to coordinate effectively with external actors.
While past stasis and competing initiatives at times exposed the limits of African-led mediation, the influence of domestic factors and the fragmented nature of conflict have equally shown the risks of marginalizing regional actors altogether. An effective process also demands greater synchronization of high-level negotiations and grassroots peacebuilding initiatives.
This webinar examines the role of African institutions in the Great Lakes peace process. It will assess the conditions under which African actors can sustain a durable and comprehensive peacebuilding effort through closer coordination with the US, Qatar and other mediators, but also with grassroots initiatives that are sometimes better tailored to localized conflict patterns.
