Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, leader of the Nairobi Peace Process, now says that the 2023 DRC elections and lack of political goodwill undermined the process.
In a statement on Thursday, Uhuru said the withdrawal of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) further slowed down the negotiations and that this led to the resurgence of fighting in Eastern DRC.
He went on to say that efforts to maintain dialogue with the leadership of DRC and the M23 became difficult because the political and security situations were deteriorating by the day.
“In June 2023, as the all-important 4th Intra-Congolese Dialogue Conference was set to take place, political attention in the DRC shifted toward the upcoming national elections in December 2023. This shift resulted in the slowing down of the Nairobi Peace Process. Unfortunately, at the same time, a political impasse resulted in the withdrawal of Kenyan forces from the EACRF.
“The suspension disrupted the momentum of the peace process, leading to a slowing down of the peace negotiations, and a breakdown in military cooperation and ultimately a resurgence of fighting in the region. Despite efforts to maintain dialogue, including consultations between the Facilitator, President Tshisekedi of DRC and the M23 leadership, the political and security landscape in the DRC became increasingly unstable,” Uhuru said.
The former President noted that during the discussions, the M23, which had agreed to a ceasefire now controls key towns in DRC including Goma after the fighting escalated.
He, however, reiterated that though undermined, the Nairobi Peace Process remains a critical framework for dialogue and conflict resolution in eastern DRC.
Uhuru said the recent resurgence of hostilities highlights the urgent need for renewed political will, regional cooperation, and sustained support for peace efforts to avoid further deterioration of the security situation.
Uhuru added that he remains committed to finding pathways to peace, in collaboration with the government of DRC, regional partners, and international stakeholders.
“The Facilitator is of the strong opinion and belief that the two processes of Luanda and Nairobi hold the greatest promise for a resolution and termination of the crisis in the eastern DRC. The two processes are complementary and interdependent. It is only through the close coordination of the bilateral negotiations between Rwanda and DRC and the Intra-Congolese Dialogue and Conferencing Process that this crisis can be brought to a fruitful conclusion,” the statement reads in part.
“There is an African solution to this African problem, and it is predicated on bringing both DRC and Rwanda back to the negotiation table while at the same time ensuring that the internal dynamics of people and politics in the eastern DRC are managed and directed to a path of peace and reconciliation.”
The former President noted that he has already submitted the report of the Nairobi Process to the East African Community Heads ahead of their meeting with SADC counterparts in Tanzania, on Friday.
