East African leaders will this Monday morning meet at State House Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the worsening security situation in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This comes after the M23 rebel movement seized the border town of Bunagana.
The area has also witnessed increased hate speech against the Tutsis, sparking fears of possible bloodshed in the country.
“To harness the value of these concerted initiatives, President Kenyatta, as Chairperson of the EAC, has convened the 3rd East African Community Heads of State conclave on Inter-Congolese dialogue of the Nairobi Peace Process on the Peace and Security situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on June 20, 20222 in State House Entebbe at 11:00am,” reads a statement from Kenya’s State House.
The EAC leaders recently agreed to deploy the East African Regional Force to counter various armed groups in DRC.
However, DRC recently said it would not allow Rwandan troops to deploy along with the regional force due to its alleged support to the M23 rebel movement.
The regional defence chiefs are meeting in Nairobi to finalise plans for the deployment of the joint force.
Kenya presidency said over the last two months, two coping and mapping consultations with foreign and local armed groups have been held to encourage the laying down of arms and seizing the olive branch extended by DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
However, only CODECO, a militia operating in North Kivu has agreed to surrender to DRC authorities.
Other groups such as M23, ADF and FDLR are yet to lay down weapons.
Kenya said the prospects for all the people of the EAC are tied to the shared prosperity of all member states living in a state of peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness.
“The situation of peace and security, particularly in Eastern DRC, is preponderant. The people have long suffered and continue to pay an inordinately heavy price in loss of lives, property and elusive peace.”
It remains unclear when the regional force will start taking action against the militias in Congo which are blamed for rampant human rights violation and instability, deepening poverty levels and instability in the region.
The regional force will be deployed to the Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces immediately to stabilize the zone and enforce peace in support of the DRC security forces and in close coordination with MONUSCO.
