Obstacles to the East African Community Initiated Peace Process in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

In Eastern DRC a civil war has been ranging since 1996. This study analyzed the obstacles and challenges to the EAC initiated peace process in Eastern DRC. This study was anchored on two complementary theories namely Neo-liberal Institutionalism and Realism. Neoliberal Institutionalism theory argued that regional organizations supplement the role of states also enhance and reinforce by acting as arbitrators in state disputes. Regional organizations also reinforce and enhance the efforts of states in arbitration of international disputes. Realism theory on the other hand explained emerging geo-political interests in the EAC initiated peace process in Eastern DRC. This study was in the form of an exploratory research design. This study employed random and purposive to identify 384 respondents for field interviews. Structured questionnaires were administered to 360 randomly selected Congolese refugees in Kenya from three selected locations. Interview schedules were administered to 24 purposively selected diplomats from Tanzania, Uganda, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, officials from the Ministry of EAC in Kenya, EALA members and experts in international peace and conflict studies. This study employed quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis and interpretation. This study identified non-inclusivity of the EAC initiated peace-process; the EAC has not put in place clear strategic directives in the peace process, lack of legitimacy of the peace process, the AU statue on state sovereignty and non-intervention in the internal affairs of states, lack of political good by affected member states and lack of adequate financial resources as major challenges to the EAC initiated peace process in Easter DRC.