Uhuru Kenyatta Meets with William Ruto at State House for Peace Talks
- Ranking African dignitaries are meeting in Nairobi to deliberate on the progress made in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace process
- Kenya's former president, Uhuru Kenyatta, is attending the meeting in his capacity as the facilitator of the process
- The meeting is cochaired by President William Ruto, who is the East African Community (EAC) chairman, and SADC chairman Emerson Mnangagwa, the president of Zimbabwe
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta is among the dignitaries attending a meeting to assess the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Source: Twitter
State House Nairobi is playing host to the joint EAC-SADC co-chairs’ meeting with the Panel of Facilitators for the DRC Peace Process.
Why Uhuru went to State House
The meeting on Friday, August 1, is co-chaired by President William Ruto of Kenya, who is the EAC chairman, and President Emerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, who is the SADC chairman.
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Uhuru attended the meeting in his capacity as the facilitator of the peace process.
Ruto waited at the front of the stairs leading to the newly built pavilion, which hosts visiting high-profile dignitaries.
The two leaders engaged in pleasantries, firm handshakes, and a photo opportunity before entering the suite.
Others in attendance at the high-level meeting, besides Uhuru and Mnangagwa, are the African Union Commission (AUC) chairman, Mahmoud Youssouf, Catherine Samba-Panza, a representative from the Central African Republic; Sahle-Work Zewde, representing Ethiopia; and Mokgweetsi Eric Kabetswe Masisi (Botswana).
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, another facilitator besides Uhuru, is attending the meeting virtually.
The Friday meeting comes five months after another joint EAC-SADC summit in Dar es Salaam.
The summit convened on February 8 sought to address the crisis and deliver lasting peace in the face of the escalating crisis in Goma.
Key in the agenda was the coordination of the EAC and SADC peace initiatives and integrating the Nairobi and Luanda processes into a uniform strategy to seek a lasting solution to the Eastern DRC.
Whilst the EAC has been determined from the outset to solve the DRC matter, there have been concerns about how effective the bloc is.
A few months back, President Paul Kagame accused DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi of jeopardising the efforts by the EAC to address the challenges in Goma.
Why Kagame blamed DRC's Tshisekedi
This was after Tshisekedi snubbed a virtual meeting chaired by Ruto to assess the crisis.
It is however not lost that tensions between Kagame and Tshisekedi have remained high, with each accusing the other of financially supporting the M23 rebels.
Additionally, Kagame has faced criticism from South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who alleged that forces linked to Kigali were behind the rebel group's actions in Goma.
These claims gained prominence following M23’s seizure of Goma in January this year, sparking widespread demonstrations and a large-scale prison break that saw over 4,000 inmates escape.
At least 13 South African soldiers were killed.
Source: Twitter
More than 7 million people were displaced amid disturbing accounts of mass killings, sexual violence, and the recruitment of children into armed groups.
In response, the East African Community (EAC) opted to withdraw its forces and urged both sides to pursue peaceful negotiations.
In an unforeseen fashion, the United States and the Qatari governments chipped in to offer solutions outside the regional blocs.
How Donald Trump intervened in DRC crisis
The US converged with Qatar to realise the Washington Accord that brought together representatives from the Rwandese and DRC governments.
It was resolved that Rwanda withdraws its troops from the Eastern DRC within three months, and the DRC to cut short its support for the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda).
It was also agreed that a regional economic integration would be birthed to preoccupy the warring sides in gainful economic engagements.
The DRC was implored to reach out to the M23 for a possible truce that would see the reinstatement of displaced populations and return of humanitarian services.
Whilst the EAC appreciated the intervention by the US and Qatar, the bloc held that regional teams were viable for a lasting solution in the Eastern DRC.
Ruto, the EAC chairman, observed that "we believe that a sustained, coordinated, Africa-led peace process remains the best pathway to a stable and peaceful Eastern DRC.'
The bloc is, however, committed to helping actualise the Washington Peace Accord and the Doha initiatives.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
