President William Ruto has called for the urgent merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes into a single, coherent, and harmonized process to serve as a comprehensive, African-led political process that addresses the underlying issues fueling the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Speaking during a high level meeting of East African Community (EAC) – Southern African Development Community (SADC) co-chairs with panel of facilitators for DRC Peace process held at State House Nairobi, Kenya, Ruto underscored the need to consolidate the peace tracks saying it was crucial to achieving sustainable stability in the region.
“This was subsequent to the decision of the African Union Summit to merge the processes anchored under the AU and the EAC-SADC mechanisms into one coherent process that will help us resolve matters in Eastern DRC.” He noted. “Today, we will be considering proposals for the merger of these processes, the terms of reference for the facilitators, and the process design for an inclusive mediation effort in Eastern DRC.”
Technical teams from EAC, SADC, and AU have prepared proposals for the merger based on earlier directives that will guide us on the way forward in formally launching the interventions by the Panel of Facilitators.
President Ruto lauded recent diplomatic progress achieved through the Washington and Luanda initiatives, which resulted in structured commitments from primary parties to the conflict and thanked the leaders for their efforts.
“We are encouraged by the emerging extra-regional diplomatic momentum and the key milestones registered through the Washington and Luanda initiatives that have resulted in structured commitments by the primary parties to the conflict in Eastern DRC.” Ruto said.
Adding that: “Allow me to sincerely commend the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madame Thérèse Wagner, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, Honorable Vincent Biruta, for their leadership in achieving these milestones.”
He remarked that the developments are a clear signal that dialogue and diplomacy can work, and that the parties are willing to meaningfully engage to peacefully find a lasting solution in Eastern DRC.
The President who is co-chairing the meeting of facilitators with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, facilitators, reiterated their commitment as joint Chairs to providing leadership on the process on behalf of the joint EAC-SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
“Our resolve to end war, loss of life and ensure comprehensive humanitarian assistance in the DRC made a leap forward when the Heads of State of the two regional blocs appointed five facilitators in our joint effort for this endeavour.” He noted.
Those present include the AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia) and Mokgweetsi Eric Kabetswe Masisi (Botswana). Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo will take part in the meeting virtually.
Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/au-urges-action-on-root-causes-of-eastern-drc-conflict-for-lasting-peace/
