Obasanjo Urges Root-Level Solutions to Congo Crisis

Kinshasa DRC, 4 February 2026 - Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President and African Union mediator, has called for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) problems to be resolved from the roots up. Speaking after a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on 3 February 2026, Obasanjo emphasized that the ongoing crisis in the DRC stems from mismanagement of internal conflicts and tensions with neighboring countries. Reflecting on his first visit to the Congo in 1960, during the Katanga independence struggle led by Moïse Tshombe, Obasanjo said, “The problem that led to the UN peacekeeping mission in Leopoldville in 1960 is still here today. Understanding the problem properly is the first step toward solving it.” He stressed that previous attempts, particularly those led from Washington, failed because the root causes were not addressed, and that a comprehensive African-led approach is necessary. Obasanjo added that while international partners like Washington, Qatar, and France can contribute, the solution must be driven by Africans. President Museveni noted that the current situation in the DRC is less severe than during Tshombe’s era, as there is no desire among Congolese provinces for independence. He called for leveraging the support of AU mediators to achieve lasting peace.

Faits rapportés

Kinshasa DRC, 4 February 2026 - Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President and African Union mediator, has called for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) problems to be resolved from the roots up. Speaking after a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on 3 February 2026, Obasanjo emphasized that the ongoing crisis in the DRC stems from mismanagement of internal conflicts and tensions with neighboring countries. Reflecting on his first visit to the Congo in 1960, during the Katanga independence struggle led by Moïse Tshombe, Obasanjo said, “The problem that led to the UN peacekeeping mission in Leopoldville in 1960 is still here today. Understanding the problem properly is the first step toward solving it.” He stressed that previous attempts, particularly those led from Washington, failed because the root causes were not addressed, and that a comprehensive African-led approach is necessary. Obasanjo added that while international partners like Washington, Qatar, and France can contribute, the solution must be driven by Africans. President Museveni noted that the current situation in the DRC is less severe than during Tshombe’s era, as there is no desire among Congolese provinces for independence. He called for leveraging the support of AU mediators to achieve lasting peace.