Kenya’s peace envoy to the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, Uhuru Kenyatta, achieved a milestone in the ongoing Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace talks.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday, November 18, stated that Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame committed to assisting in negotiating with M23 leaders on the urgent need for a ceasefire after a phone call with Uhuru.
Kagame also pledged to urge the rebels to surrender the regions under their control.
The discussion between Uhuru and Kagame was said to be a turning point in the escalated conflict.
The former president further briefed Kagame on his last visit to Goma and Kinshasa, where he interacted with Internally displaced persons (IDP) and opinion shapers.
“President Kagame also agreed to assist the EAC facilitator to urge the M23 to ceasefire and withdrawal from captured territories in line with the proposals given by the regional CDF’s in their meeting in Bujumbura,” a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read in part.
In addition, the Rwandan leader agreed to expedite the contribution of Rwandan forces to the joint East Africa Regional Force as part of the resolutions laid down by the East African Community (EAC) to restore peace in the disturbed region.
Uhuru later called United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, to apprise him of the progress made in the peace talks. He also requested humanitarian assistance for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Eastern DRC.
Notably, Rwanda was one of the countries yet to contribute soldiers to the East African Regional Force for the peacekeeping mission in DRC. Reports had also indicated that Rwanda had taken a back seat in the process of pacifying DRC.
Foreign affairs experts noted that Kagame’s intervention would boost Uhuru’s efforts in resolving the conflict, especially a few days after Kenya’s 4th president complained that his role was hampered by the humanitarian crisis in Goma.
If successful, Uhuru will have fulfilled his first two assignments since President William Ruto appointed him as Kenya’s Peace Envoy and tasked him with resolving conflicts in DRC and Ethiopia.
In early November 2022, the former President successfully presided over peace talks between Ethiopia and the Tigray Forces, culminating in a cease-fire deal.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE