Foreign Ministers from the European Union met in Luxembourg to address one of the most important agenda items: the prevailing situation in terms of conflict in the Great Lakes region, more specifically in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is an area of chronic instability that the European Union has been concerned with for so long, hence the move to appoint a special envoy to try to solve the complicated issues of the region. However, ministers were thrown into a deadlock over different positions on how to relate with Rwanda, thus bringing out a deep split within the European Union.
In the foreground of considerations by all 27 EU member states, it is that registered influence from Rwanda in eastern DRC reflects a dire situation, well-documented with serious challenges to the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This created a shared understanding that saw a resolution in February 2023 for the appointment of a special envoy with an increased mandate covering Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Eastern DRC.
The long list of what had been an enormously tough competition has now been reduced to just two candidates: one non-French-speaking former Finnish Foreign Minister who later withdrew his candidacy. With that, the frontrunner for the position became Belgian diplomat Bernard Quintin, Deputy Director-General for Africa at the EEAS.
Despite this selection by Quintin, he was not confirmed on Monday following reported pressures from Rwanda, even though the nomination was meant to be confidential. This development underlines the diverse views within the EU.
Some, like Belgium, want to take a hard line against Rwanda and just deal with it like any other EU partner. Others in the European Union believe it should adopt a more conciliatory attitude toward the country, thinking of Rwanda as an African miracle and a success story. The latter attitude has more weight in the office of Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
That leak of confidential nomination details shows the bottom line of existing tensions and how complicated EU diplomacy vis-a-vis the Great Lakes region could be. This appointment may remain in limbo as this bloc continues to wrestle with its internal splits, further mystifying efforts to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Eastern DR Congo.