Kenya’s retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has convened an urgent consultation with the East African Community (EAC) technical advisers to review the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a press release to newsrooms, the meeting was necessitated by the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu, where the serious escalation of fighting and targeted killings is reported to be taking place.
Convening the meeting in his capacity as the Facilitator of the EAC-Led Nairobi Process on the Restoration of Peace and Stability in eastern DRC, Kenyatta in addition called for a calm and immediate cessation of hostilities.
He expressed his deep concern about the serious violation of the Nairobi Principles and the Luanda Agreement.
“The Facilitator expressed his deep concern to the serious violation of the Nairobi Principles and the Luanda Agreement. He also called for urgent return to dialogue and consultation in order to promote trust and confidence among the parties to the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the people in eastern DRC,” read the statement.
Over the weekend, DRC police clashed with Rwandan soldiers on a small island in Lake Kivu, adding to the ongoing tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa.
Meanwhile, Kenyatta assured of his commitment to restoring peace and called upon regional leaders and the international community to lend a helping hand in the peace process.
“The Facilitator remains committed to the course of building peace in eastern DRC and continues to call on regional leaders and the international community to lend their political goodwill and support to the full realization of the EAC-Led Nairobi Peace Process for the Restoration of Peace and Stability in eastern DRC,” Tuesday’s statement added.
