Ruto in Burundi for 'crisis' summit over DRC mandate

Heads of State from the East Africa Community (EAC) are meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi, today to make major decisions on the current security situation in Eastern DRC.

The 21st extraordinary meeting comes following a similar meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers which brought together permanent or principal secretaries responsible for regional cooperation from the seven member states.

On Monday, military chiefs from the countries also met to discuss the insecurity in eastern DR Congo.

President William Ruto is among those attending the conference.

Speaking during a mini-summit in Ethiopia in February, Ruto called for political will in ending the DRC conflict.

“Without these bold steps, our region will not be able to ride the negative effects," he said.

The crisis meetings come against the backdrop of threats from the Congolese government to have the EAC regional force (EACRF) leave the country by June 1.

Troops from Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan are currently deployed in the country to help secure areas vacated by the M23 rebels.

On May 13, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Christophe Lutundula said the regional force has “failed” to fight the M23.

Major General Alphaxard Kiugu recently appointed as the new EARFC commander to take over from Geff Nyaga is likely to be inducted to the regional heads during the summit.

Nyaga left his role following heightened with the DRC government.

DRC wants the force to use the against M23 which is against a peace deal signed November 23 in Luanda, Angola which required it to apply force if they refused to withdraw.

While in Botswana, President Felix Tshisekedi warned that the regional force would have to leave the Congolese territory in June when its mandate expires in June.

The 20th extraordinary summit of the leaders was held on February 4.

During his past address, Nyaga noted that their mission is to facilitate a political process by enabling a return to normalcy and resumption of economic activities in areas previously occupied by the rebel group.

While the mandate of the force expired in March, it has been formally extended and today’s meeting is set to chat the way forward.

Retired president Uhuru Kenyatta who is the EAC peace facilitator has been the leading peace process in the country pushing for dialogue between rebel groups and the government.