Uhuru condemns escalation of hostilities, k******s in eastern DRC

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has condemned the reported escalation of hostilities, killings and displacements in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement, the former Kenyan Head of State, who is the facilitator of the East Africa Community (EAC)-led peace process in DRC, appealed to all the armed groups to cease hostilities and give dialogue a chance.

"The facilitator appeals to all parties engaged in such acts to immediately cease their armed offensives and hostilities, so as to allow continued unhindered and sustained humanitarian access and to give a chance to a return to peace and the pursuit of a non-military solution to the crisis in the region through the EAC Led Nairobi Peace Process," the statement dated October 9 reads in part.

Press Release
10th October, 2023. pic.twitter.com/J2IrCXwCIF— Office of the 4th President of Kenya. (@4thPresidentKE) October 10, 2023

In November last year, Uhuru expressed hope of finding a lasting solution to the conflict in DRC.

Speaking at the East Africa Community (EAC)-led Third Nairobi Peace Process at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on November 30, 2022, Uhuru stressed that Congolese were peace-loving people and that the conflict was 'brought' to them by outside players.

"Najua tutafaulu kwa sababu nyinyi sio watu munapenda vita, ni vita mumeletewa. Wakongomani ni watu wa amani (I know we will succeed because you are not people who like war. Congolese are peaceful people)," Uhuru said.

The former Kenyan President further exuded confidence that the Third Nairobi Peace Process was the one that would find the solution to the Congo conflict.

"Nairobi hii ndo itatoa suluhu (This Nairobi meeting will provide a solution)," Uhuru said.

The Nairobi meeting brought together armed groups from eastern DRC, representatives of the local communities, civil society groups and government officials.

Since then Uhuru has chaired several meetings in and outside DRC to rally the armed groups to drop their hardline positions.

In July, he led a Consultative Technical Team meeting involving various stakeholders of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Peace Process in Goma

The closed-door session, Uhuru said, majorly discussed matters of cantonment and confidence-building measures among the warring parties in the eastern part of DRC.

The facilitator said the meeting, unlike others held outside DRC, had been convened in Goma as an indication of all stakeholders' commitment to helping the Congolese people find lasting peace solutions to the conflict.

"The peace process is about the Congolese people, and therefore being in Goma instead of meeting in capitals outside of DRC is an indication of each and everyone's commitment to finding a lasting peaceful solution to the problems that have afflicted this part of our neighboring country," he said.

Thousands of people have been displaced in the volatile eastern region of DRC as fighting between the country's military and M23 rebels continues.

The M23 was formed in 2012 claiming to defend the interests of Congolese Tutsis, a group sharing the ethnicity of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, against Hutu militias.

DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 leading to a diplomatic tiff between the two countries.