War in eastern DRC : Uhuru Kenyata in Goma for discussions on the pre-cantonment of the M23

Uhuru Kenyatta, East African Community Facilitator has been in the DRC since Wednesday. He takes part in discussions around the pre-cantonment and cantonment of M23 fighters. When he got off the plane, he said he hoped that solutions for a lasting peace throughout the country would be found. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

At Goma airport in North Kivu province, Mr. Kenyatta was welcomed by the Minister of State in charge of regional integration, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi and other officials, like the military governor of North Kivu.

According to our sources, the former Kenyan president and EAC facilitator is in the DRC to discuss the issue of pre-cantonment and cantonment of the M23.

“The question was even at the center of his first discussions in which the facilitator took part”, we learn.

During the meeting, it will also be a question of “analyzing the possibilities of creating trust between the EAC force present in the DRC and the population”, according to sources close to the facilitator and the Congolese authorities.

Uhuru Kenyatta affirmed to the local press his attachment to the population of eastern DRC, indicating that the regional community is working to seek lasting solutions to the security issue.

“I present my sincere condolences to the population of North Kivu, victim of atrocities following the activism of armed groups in this part of the DRC. The measures taken by EAC states must be implemented as soon as possible”, he said.

Mr. Kenyatta believes that it is not just eastern DRC that needs peace, but the whole of the DRC.

He recalled that “this is the very reason why there were the dialogues in Luanda and Nairobi with the sole objective of restoring calm in this country”.

“The EAC force deployed here is doing very well and we hope to achieve good results. Regarding the pre-cantonment of M23 fighters, discussions are continuing and a solution will be found”, he reassured.

A pre-cantonment site in Rumangabo has been completely rehabilitated and is able to accommodate 250 elements while awaiting the planned cantonment stage around Kindu, in the province of Maniema.

The M23 is a former Tutsi rebellion which took up arms again at the end of 2021 accusing the Congolese authorities of not having respected their commitments on the reintegration of its fighters. The Congolese authorities remain convinced that it enjoys the support of Rwanda, which the Rwandan government continues to brush aside.