The Chairman of RPF-Inkotanyi, President Paul Kagame has said that there is an opportunity to finding a lasting and durable solution to the insecurity that has prevailed in the Eastern DRC for close to three decades.
He expressed optimism in the Nairobi process and Luanda roadmap, which were initiated to restore peace in eastern DR Congo, saying that they could “bear good results.”
The Chairman said this while addressing virtually the third round of the Inter-Congolese dialogue which kicked off on Monday, November 28, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
For nearly three decades, Eastern DR Congo has been the home of over 120 indigenous and foreign armed groups, who are accused of various abuses, leading to a protracted security and humanitarian crisis.
“This situation has negatively impacted our region, including the issue of hundreds of thousands of Congolese refugees who are unable to safely return to their homes, as well as impeding trade and investment with negative implications to the whole region,” Kagame said.
“The primary reason for this persistent crisis is the failure to implement the many agreements that have been reached at various levels and at different times in past years. I most sincerely believe this time around these efforts are going to bear good results.”
Currently, the Congolese armed forces FARDC are faced with an offensive by the M23 rebels, who relaunched attacks in May this year and the first since 2013.
Nairobi peace talks, facilitated by the East African Community, bring together the Congolese government and the many armed groups to seek a lasting solution to the security crisis in eastern DR Congo.
The Luanda roadmap, mediated by Angolan President João Lourenço, was initiated in order to normalise relations between Rwanda and DR Congo.
Rwanda has accused the Congolese government, and with evidence, of co-opting FDLR - a terrorist group whose members are accused of genocide crimes in Rwanda – in its ranks.
“The recent resurgence of one armed group, among many others, has received a lot of attention globally and this comes on top of other unresolved security and political challenges,” Kagame said.
“We therefore welcome the region’s swift response and the robust mechanisms being established to save lives in eastern DRC and address the dangerous escalations that threaten neighbouring countries including Rwanda.”
