Why DRC peace efforts stalled despite Nairobi process; Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta issues a detailed statement explaining Why DRC peace efforts stalled despite Nairobi process; Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta issues a detailed statement explaining Why DRC peace efforts stalled despite Nairobi process; Uhuru Kenyatta.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta released a statement on Thursday explaining why the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains unresolved despite his role as the lead facilitator of the Nairobi Process peace talks.
According to the former president, the Nairobi and Luanda Processes—both aimed at resolving instability in the DRC—failed due to a shift in political attention within the country.
The former Head of State indicated that despite diplomatic engagements that involved the political, civil, and military stakeholders across the region including the M23, the shift in political attention owing to the December 2023 elections greatly hindered the progress they had registered in resolving the stalemate.
”However, in June 2023, as the all-important 4th Intra-Congolese Dialogue Conference was set to take place, political attention in the DRC shifted toward the upcoming national elections in December 2023. This shift resulted in the slowing down of the Nairobi Peace Process,” Uhuru shared in a statement delivered by Kanze Dena on his behalf.
Uhuru added that the peace talks identified two key interventions to help the DRC recover from instability: peace negotiations and military intervention.
Other key initiatives included multiple targeted discussions with armed groups including the M23, confidence-building measures with various civil rights and women groups, and the organisation of several high-level conferences to resolve tensions and identify pathways to peace.
However, according to him the hostilities that led to the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from the nation further complicated the situation.
”Unfortunately, at the same time, a political impasse resulted in the withdrawal of Kenyan forces from the EACRF. The suspension disrupted the momentum of the peace process, leading to a slowing down of the peace negotiations, and a breakdown in military cooperation and ultimately a resurgence of fighting in the region,” the statement added.
Furthermore, Uhuru noted that the formation of a new government following the December 2023 elections in the DRC delayed the resumption of the Nairobi Process due to a lack of political willingness from the country’s leaders to engage.
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”Despite efforts to maintain dialogue, including consultations between the Facilitator, President Tshisekedi of DRC, and the M23 leadership, the political and security landscape in the DRC became increasingly unstable,” Uhuru noted.
”Following the December 2023 elections in the DRC, the formation of a new government delayed the resumption of the Nairobi Process. While engagements with key stakeholders continued, the lack of political momentum, coupled with renewed hostilities in North Kivu and South Kivu, has significantly undermined the progress made in 2022-2023.”
Since the failure of diplomatic interventions, the M23—once bound by a ceasefire agreement—has regained control of key towns, including Goma, leading to escalating clashes, according to Uhuru.
He emphasized that for the process to succeed, bilateral negotiations between Rwanda and the DRC—along with the intra-Congolese dialogue and conference—must be given a chance.
The conflict in the DRC escalated on January 28 with attacks targeting the embassies of Kenya, Uganda, France, and South Africa.
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