The Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC) - Nairobi Process on peace and security in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has called on the newly formed advisory team to work together to assist in achieving the objective set out by the Heads of State and governments in the region.

The former President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta was speaking on Friday 20th January 2023 after he met with the technical advisory team drawn from the EAC member states. 

The advisory team which held a week-long conference in Mombasa, Kenya, engaged in deliberations aimed at developing a road map towards enhancing the peace process of restoring long-lasting peace, security, and stability in the Eastern part of DRC. 

Addressing the forum, the EAC facilitator thanked the EAC secretariat for organising and facilitating the conference, saying long-lasting peace in DRC will eventually help enhance the capacity of the region to promote its economic prosperity.

“I want to thank all of you for agreeing to be part of the team, to assist in this endeavour of trying to find lasting peace in one of our neighbouring countries DRC,” Uhuru said.

Present at the deliberations were Lt. Gen.  Silas Ntigurirwa - Burundi, Amb, Lt. Gen Ignas Mella- United Republic of Tanzania, Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Octavoius Butuuro-Uganda, Maj. Gen. Francois Kabamba-DRC, Brig, Mwasi Mwanyika – Representing Kenya, Lt. Col Ephraim Ngoga-Rwanda was represented by Lt. Col. David Sangani.

Just last week, retired president Kenyatta, in his capacity as the Facilitator for the East African Community peace process in the Eastern DRC, had the occasion to meet with the chairman and senior Political and Military Leaders of the M-23 group in order to seek to bring peace to the Eastern DRC and the North Kivu in particular.

The M-23 leaders urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to assist in guaranteeing safety in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and ensure that citizen rights are respected. 

In demonstration of  goodwill  and  willingness  to  work  towards  the  settlement  of  the situation  in  the  North  Kivu,  the  leaders  of  the  M-23 also agreed  to  continue  with  an  orderly withdrawal and to adhere to a strict cease-fire. 

M-23 further said they wanted all the local and foreign armed groups fighting in the eastern DRC to lay down their arms and seek resolution of the conflict through peaceful means.

Similarly, they agreed to continue to respect and cooperate with the East African Regional Force that has now begun to take control of the  areas  vacated  by  the  M-23;  a  process  that  is  in  adherence  to  the  decision  of  the extraordinary meeting of the EAC Chiefs of General Staff held in Bujumbura on 8th November 2022.  

During the meeting, it was also agreed that the withdrawal process would continue to be verified by both the East African Regional Force and the ICGLR Verification Mechanism to ensure the safety and swift return of all the displaced citizens and refugees to their homes.