** Title: Towards a sustainable stabilization of the eastern DRC: challenges and post-commet perspectives of Luanda **
The recent displacement of the Congolese president, Félix Tshisekedi, in Luanda, Angola, on March 11, 2025, to discuss the security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with his counterpart João Lourenço, testifies to the urgency of a new diplomatic dynamic in the face of a crisis that has persisted for too long. This meeting is part of a broader setting, preceding a crucial summit in the Development Community of Southern Africa (SADC) scheduled for March 13, in a context where security issues have become central for regional stability.
### A problematic historical context
The eastern DRC has long been the scene of conflicts, often exacerbated by external interventions, in particular the alleged support of Rwanda to armed groups such as the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFC/M23). The resulting human drama is alarming: according to UN figures, nearly 5.4 million people have lost their lives since the start of armed conflicts in the 1990s and 6.1 million people are currently moved within their own borders. This context offers fertile soil to interethnic tensions and endemic poverty, making the search for a lasting solution of extraordinary complexity.
### Luanda’s peace process and its limits
Luanda’s peace process, initiated under the auspices of the African Union, is trying to provide a final response to this crisis. However, these efforts, although important, have not yet made it possible to put an end to violence. An argument that one could argue is that these negotiations, in particular the discussions around the processes of Luanda and Nairobi, must be designed not only as diplomatic agreements, but as levers capable of restoring confidence between local communities.
The merger of these two processes, directed by influential figures like Olusegun Obasanjo, Uhuru Kenyatta and Haile Mariam Dessalegn, could theoretically offer such a vast as an authentic approach to guarantee lasting peace. However, the past ineffectiveness of these leaders in other context of peace leaves doubts about the results.
### A long-term vision: beyond the armed conflict
The real challenge of successive negotiations and summits will be to introduce a model that incorporates social, economic and environmental dimensions in the resolution of the crisis. Currently, discussions seem to focus mainly on military and political dynamics, leaving aside crucial factors such as deforestation, exploitation of minerals and climatic challenges which are intrinsically linked to current conflicts. A holistic approach could be inspired by community peace strategies implemented in other parts of the world, such as the model of “participatory peace agreements” observed in Colombia, which have succeeded in involving the local population in the process of reconciliation.
### The role of young people and civil society
By analyzing the deep causes of the conflict, it is essential to underline the fundamental role that youth and civil society can play in the dynamics of negotiations. Young people, who represent around 70 % of the DRC population, are often both the first victims of conflicts and the main players in change. The initiatives that allow young people to speak are crucial. Leadership and mediation training programs must be promoted to guarantee effective representation in decision -making processes.
### Conclusion
Thus, although the meeting between Tshisekedi and Lourenço in Luanda represents a step towards regional diplomacy, the search for lasting peace in eastern DRC requires much more than a simple political will. It requires an inclusive and multi-sectoral vision, capable of integrating all the votes concerned and reflecting on elements that go beyond the traditional security framework to act on human development and social inclusion. As the famous African proverb often says, “alone, we go faster; Together, we go further. ” A reality that political actors in the region must kiss to really change the course of the history of the DRC and the whole region of the Great Lakes.