Washington DC, 1 July 2022 (TDI): Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta received a phone call from Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken today to discuss Kenya’s efforts to address the ongoing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
I spoke with Kenyan President Kenyatta today to express appreciation for his and the East African Community’s efforts to end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dialogue between @Presidence_RDC and @UrugwiroVillage can lead to peace and prosperity.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 30, 2022
The Nairobi Process, which has brought together the leadership of the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Tanzania, was acknowledged by Secretary Blinken.
The Secretary underlined that the de-escalation of regional tensions is made possible by these head of state gatherings.
The Secretary emphasized the need for peaceful, free, and fair elections in Kenya that reflect the populace’s wishes.
He also discussed other regional matters, such as American attempts to assist African nations experiencing food shortages because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the unprecedented drought.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged DR Congo’s various armed factions to put down their arms and cooperate with President Félix Tshisekedi in fostering peace and stability in the region’s newest member state.
President Kenyatta highlighted that every distinct section of DR Congo will continue to be a loser until efforts are made to foster unity and cohesion among all its citizens.
He stated that the blessings of prosperity that all deserve from the teeming rich endowments will continue to be elusive unless arms are laid down to forge an unbreakable national compact to secure the DRC.
This makes it important for all people of goodness in the DRC to unite and swiftly create a foundation of prosperity by working tirelessly for enduring peace.
The Head of State emphasized that the importance of peace is singular and unquestionable and added that nothing durable could be established on the unstable foundation of insecurity.
President Kenyatta, the current Chairman of the East African Community (EAC), stated in a statement announcing the conference that the people of the eastern DRC “had long suffered & continue to pay an inordinately heavy price in loss of lives, property, & elusive peace.”
Aside from that, it is pertinent to note that two brainstorming and mapping talks with international and local armed groups operating in the DRC have taken place in Nairobi over the past two months.
The third conference takes place as intense combat reignites long-standing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, and the DRC accuses Rwanda of the recent revival of the M23 rebel organization.
M23 was originally part of the Congolese military, M23 is dominated by Congolese Tutsis. Tutsi in the Congo are descendants of migrating Rwandan, Burundian and Tanzanian pastoralists.
Over 30-armed group representatives attended the negotiations, with the majority agreeing to the two heads of state’s call to lay down their arms.
A few asked for additional time to consider the conditions, but all showed a desire to work together to create their nation.
