Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has reported noteworthy progress in his efforts to restore peace and stability in the Eastern DR Congo.
Uhuru who is the EAC facilitator in the Process said following the meetings with three heads of state and the Nairobi III conference, there has been a decline in violence in North Kivu and increased peace and reduction of hostilities in South Kivu.
He, however, stated that violence is still being reported in North Kivu noting that progress was being made to deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected.
The East African Community regional force (EACRF), he said, has fully been deployed as per the Nairobi Process with the last phase of deployment being troops from South Sudan last weekend.
“The major armed group of M23 has withdrawn from North Kivu on western front-Sake-Mshaki-Neenero and Kiloliriwe,” he stated.
“Kitchanga is set to be vacated by Tuesday this week… this has been verified by Ad hoc mechanism (Angola led EJV (IGLR) and EAC monitoring and verification mechanisms,” he added.
The supply route of Bunagana-Rutshuru-Kubumba-Goma that will allow the free movement of goods and persons and delivery of humanitarian assistance, he noted, will be secured.
The facilitator has attributed the significant progress to a commitment by EAC heads as well as engagements with relevant stakeholders.
The deployment of troops to the areas that were previously considered volatile, Uhuru said, is a signal that more armed groups are now complying with the terms of the Nairobi process.
“The facilitator will continue to reach out to all parties, both political as well as armed groups, in his continued efforts to help bring peace in the part of the DRC,” a statement reads.
Uhuru at the same time disclosed that there were plans to hold a Nairobi IV multi-venue conference in DRC.
During the last meeting in Nairobi in December, Uhuru was categorical that there would be no more peace talks in the country.
"Kwa sababu tunaamini tutakuwa tumesonga mbele na amani yetu, tutakuwa na mikutano miwili huko Goma na nyingine Bunia," Uhuru said.
(Because we believe we shall have progressed we are going to have two meetings in Goma and Bunia.)
"We do not want you to come back to Nairobi, there is no reason why we should not meet at home...we shall meet at the grassroots to check if we can succeed in our peace effort," he said.
