Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, November 15 visited Goma and Rutshuru, in the Eastern part of DR Congo and called for ceasefire amid intensified tensions.
The former head of state also serves as a mediator for the East African Community (EAC).
Kenyatta said he was invited to the Joint Operations Coordination Center, for pre-talks of the Nairobi meeting, by the Kinshasa government. He has been in the country for two days.
"The message we have today is that all groups who currently bear arms to lay those arms down and choose the path of peace, through dialogue, because there is nothing that can be gained through the barrel of a gun,” he said, while briefing members of the media.
While in DR Congo, the former head of state said that he had an opportunity to internalize a lot after engagements with Monusco leadership, stakeholders from affected regions, members of parliament, diplomatic corps, top government officials, among others.
"The people want peace; they are tired of war. Many thousands have died and many more have been internally displaced and unable to conduct their regular activities,” he added.
Over 100 Congolese refugees have so far fled to Rwanda, and the Kigali government recently announced plans to relocate them in a transit camp.
Families continue to arrive in Rwanda every day, through the Kabuhanga border post. The majority of whom are women and children, come from the areas of Ruhunda and Buhumba in eastern DRC.
Kenyatta’s visit to DR Congo comes amid renewed fighting between Congolese government forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group, after the latter reportedly seized more territory and are now advancing to Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province.
"As i said to them earlier, we have not come here with any particular mindset, to dictate what should happen, but rather in the spirit of our understanding, and mandate that has been given to us, we came here to listen to the people.”
Given the mandate, he said, we are here to help facilitate and bring peace among the different parties.
"Hopefully we will be able to make a contribution towards bringing lasting peace to the people of this country, which is also for the people of EAC, Africa and the world,” Kenyatta reiterated.
Silence the guns
But I want to make it very clear, the mandate that we have been given is very clear, Kenyatta said.
He hinted to the "various” groups that have for a long time operated in the Eastern DR Congo, citing that some were internal while the others were foreign.
"To all, we address in the same manner. Put the guns down, silence the guns and join the political process,” he said, adding, "To foreign groups, it is basically saying that the DR Congo is no longer a battleground of external problems.”
Kenyatta also highlighted that the Nairobi talks are working closely with different mechanisms, including the Luanda Tripartite summit that seeks to reinstate cordial relations between DR Congo and Rwanda.
"The two processes are tied to the hip and we are working together, because ultimately as we bring peace to the internal groups we also want to see cordial relations with DR Congo and its neighbors.”