Photo: Courtesy
Yesterday many leaders headed by President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi who is the Chairperson of the East African Community, President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, President Joao Lourenco of Angola, and many others from the Great Lakes Region met in Nairobi and started peace talks concerning the Democratic Republic Congo.
DRC is facing a huge challenge as M23 rebels who were defeated in 2013 reemerged in November 2021 and they are fighting President Felix Tshisekedi's government in the eastern part of DRC in Kivu Province.
The M23 fighters have been advancing and they are capturing key areas in the region including Kabumbu town near Goma City. At the same time, M23 has vowed to seize Goma City and its international airport.
This is the thing that made the regional leaders come together and urge those fighting to stop and meet for peace talks in Nairobi.
What is worrying is that M23 rebels who are the main protagonists didn't send their delegates as the talks started in Nairobi yesterday. The peace talks that will take place until December 3 attracted over 40 rebel groups operating in eastern DRC
In my perception, as these leaders look for ways of solving this war, they should also remember that one of the most key agreements was signed in the year 2009 between the government of DRC and CNDP.
The government failed to implement the agreement and that led to the formation of the current M23(March 23 Movement). This means that if the DRC administration headed by President Tshisekedi will not implement that 2009 agreement it will be very hard for the Congolese people to enjoy sustainable peace.
At the same time, these leaders should ensure that they involve the M23 delegation before they complete peace talks.
Do you have any thoughts? Kindly comment down here.
Content created and supplied by: [email protected] (via Opera News )
COMMENTS