Leaders spearheading peace talks have yet again called on armed groups in Eastern DRC to lay down their weapons.
They have instead urged them to embrace the ongoing political process to restore peace in the troubled region.
The third inter-Congolese dialogue held in Nairobi on Monday emphasised the urgent need for unconditional disarmament and departure of foreign armed groups from the DRC.
In a joint communique after the meeting at Safari Park Hotel, leaders expressed concern over the dire plight of refugees.
They also called for urgent restoration of peace in the volatile region which will allow voluntary return and settlement of displaced persons.
“The political process is the surest path to sustainable peace and security,” the leaders said in the joint statement.
While reiterating the full respect for the territorial integrity of the DRC, the leaders restated the need for political and military interventions to secure lasting peace in the region.
The dialogue was attended by President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, Kenya’s William Ruto, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Félix Tshisekedi of DRC, Uganda’s Yowezi Museveni and facilitator of the EAC- led Nairobi process Uhuru Kenyatta.
Tanzania’s Suluhu Hassan was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister stergomena tax, while UN boss António Guterres was represented by UN special envoy for the Great Lakes region Huang Xi.
The team encouraged the Congolese groups present to take advantage of the opportunity the dialogue offers to accelerate the path to peace.
The leaders also asked partner states and the international community to settle their commitments to the Nairobi process and accelerate the implementation of the agreed outcomes.
