Written by Faith Mwende
President William Ruto has urged the Nairobi-Luanda peace facilitation team, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, to work alongside East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) peace envoys in engaging Rwanda to support efforts to restore peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking during a virtual summit of facilitators in the merged Luanda-Nairobi peace process, Ruto stressed the need to bring Rwanda into discussions despite its previous reluctance due to tensions with the DRC.
“I know we will be having a conversation as to how this is going to move forward, especially in the context that the facilitator of the Rwanda process will not be part of this, and that is part of the conversation we need to have,” he stated.
The President also urged the facilitators to continue engaging stakeholders to help de-escalate the conflict, which has been fueled by the M23 rebels.
“More than 3,000 lives have been lost, with thousands more maimed. These figures are not just statistics; they are human tragedies that demand urgent redress,” Ruto emphasized.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is among the EAC and SADC-appointed mediators of the DRC conflict.
Other facilitators include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, and Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic.
The Nairobi peace process, led by Uhuru Kenyatta, had previously stalled due to political distractions, military withdrawals, and a lack of commitment from key stakeholders.
Additionally, the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from the EAC Regional Force created a security vacuum, emboldening insurgent groups.
