Zambia speaker calls for African-led solutions to DRC crisis

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Zambia’s Speaker Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti has urged African nations to prioritise homegrown solutions to the crisis in eastern DRC.

Mutti, who also serves as president of the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum, was officially received at Parliament by Speaker Anita Annet Among, where she reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to fostering peace in the conflict-ridden region.

The visit preceded a scheduled meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, where discussions on regional peace and security were expected to take centre stage.

Speaker Anita Annet Among welcomes her Zambian counterpart the speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia the Rt Hon Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti at Parliament. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

“The main objective of our trip is a fact-finding mission. This is the fourth phase of our efforts to understand the issues affecting peace and security in eastern DRC. Without peace, we cannot interact, and regional integration cannot prosper,” Mutti stated.

The Great Lakes region, which includes Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC, has long faced instability, particularly in the mineral-rich eastern DRC. Armed rebel groups have fuelled violence, causing mass displacement, loss of life, and disruptions to trade and development.

Mutti stressed the need for African nations to take charge of their security concerns rather than relying on external intervention.

“We don’t want to invite strangers to intervene in our affairs when we have responsible leaders who can guide our people toward peace and stability. Our Presidents must take the lead in ensuring that our countries are peaceful.”

As she prepares to hand over the leadership of the Parliamentary Forum to Angola in April this year, Mutti revealed that findings from this mission will be presented at the plenary session before being elevated to higher levels of discussion among African leaders.

Speaker Anita Annet Among echoed the call for unity and patriotism among African nations, emphasising that the pursuit of peace must be a collective effort.

“We want to see how peace can be created in the DRC. That peace can only come through our heads of state, and it begins with us, the Africans. We must love our countries, embrace Pan-Africanism, and take charge of our security concerns,” Among emphasized.

She highlighted that while Africa is endowed with vast natural resources, including gold and other valuable minerals, the lack of peace and security undermines economic growth.

“We may have everything, but when we lack peace, we lack security, and without security, there can be no development. It is our responsibility to bring peace to our countries.”

Speaker Anita Annet Among welcomes her Zambian counterpart the speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia the Rt Hon Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti at Parliament. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Among also commended Zambia for fostering regional cooperation, particularly through knowledge-sharing initiatives. She appreciated the Zambian Parliament for hosting Ugandan legislators on benchmarking visits.

“I always tell my members of Parliament that if you want to benchmark, go to a country that closely resembles yours. Don’t go to New York, because there’s nothing you can pick from there.”

Uganda and Zambia, both key members of the Great Lakes region, continue to work closely on advancing peace efforts.

Under President Museveni, Uganda has played a pivotal role in stabilising eastern DRC, engaging in regional peace talks and contributing troops under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to combat insurgencies.

Zambia, meanwhile, remains actively involved in diplomatic efforts to mediate conflicts across the region.