Burundian President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, and former Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, have said that a political pathway is being strengthened towards a comprehensive solution to the protracted security situation in eastern DR Congo.
They made the observation through a Communiqué issued by EAC Secretariat on November 4, 2022, after their consultative meeting on the security situation in eastern DR Congo, which was held in Bujumbura.
Ndayishimiye doubles as the Chairperson of the Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State and President of the Republic of Burundi, while Uhuru doubles as the EAC Facilitator on the Peace Process in the eastern region of DR Congo.
As per the statement, they reviewed the progress in the implementation of the political and military tracks set out to stabilise eastern DR Congo.
"They noted that while the force generation and deployment are in progress, the political track is being re-energised towards a comprehensive solution to the protracted security situation,” the communiqué reads in part.
Embracing the quest for lasting peace
The communiqué stated that Uhuru and Ndayishimiye reviewed the recent developments in North Kivu, particularly the resurgence of violence, which has undermined the gains that had been made; as local armed groups had offered to lay down arms in return for peace, and urged all parties to join in the quest for lasting peace in eastern DR Congo through the inter-Congolese dialogue.
The meeting further called on all foreign armed groups to return to their respective countries of origin unconditionally.
It underscored the need to uphold inclusivity by ensuring the participation of all stakeholders and noted that all sessions, henceforth, will accommodate various community leaders.
The consultative meeting agreed on a roadmap for the implementation of the political track, towards a sustainable solution to peace and security in eastern DR Congo, and encouraged continued complimentary engagement between the EAC-Led Process and the Luanda Process to ease tension between the brotherly states of DR Congo and Rwanda.
On October 29, the Congolese government expelled Rwanda’s Ambassador, Vincent Karega, a decision they said was largely hinged on allegations that Rwanda continues to back the M23 rebellion.
Rwanda described the expulsion as a ‘regrettable’ decision "attempting to cover up their (Congolese Government) own governance and security failures.”
Rwanda has been accusing DR Congo of embedding the FDLR – a militia formed by remnants of people who committed the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994 – into its national army, FARDC and deliberately attacking it by shelling on the Rwandan territory.
As per the aforementioned communiqué, the meeting appreciated the commitment of all EAC Heads of State to a sustainable, peaceful, inclusive solution to the DR Congo crisis, in line with the regional aspirations, set out in the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, within the context of the EAC-Led Nairobi Peace Process.
The Chairperson (Ndayishimiye) reiterated that he is engaged in dialogue with all EAC Heads of State on embracing a regional approach, within the agreed framework, in handling the situation and building trust among EAC partner states.
The next session of the peace dialogue will commence on November 16, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Meanwhile, the 22nd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, which was held in Arusha, Tanzania, on July 22, decided to quickly deploy a Joint Regional Force in Eastern DRC [to fight the negative forces].
According to the aforementioned Communiqué, the consultative meeting appreciated the Republics of Burundi, Kenya and Uganda for timely deployment of troops and urged other troop-contributing countries to expedite their deployment within the agreed structure and framework.
EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation of seven partner states, comprising Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.