East Africa has long been plagued by problems that prevent the region’s steady progression towards unity. There were attempts by the colonialists to create various tribal divisions and ethnic tensions alongside the struggle for independence and existing ethnic conflict. Through these challenges, community-building and regional peace initiatives have become a source of hope and light in the quest for peace. East Africa has great potential to overcome its fragmented past by tackling conflict and empowering grassroots communities to build unity and ensure progress. This paper discusses the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a major roleplayer on this journey. The DRC, as the largest and the most resource-endowed country in the region, holds the potential to spur revolutionary development. The DRC tackles its challenges of internal development through community development programmes and participation in East African peace efforts, which allows the country not only to contribute to the global agenda on unity in East Africa, but also to stand out as a regional contributor. This paper sheds light on the path to a more cohesive and resilient East Africa.
Photo: A joint UN-AU high level delegation visit an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the Kasai region, North-Kivu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2017. (Photo: UN Women/Carlos Ngeleka).
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