Uhuru Secures Win In Nairobi In Ending DRC War

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta secured a win in Nairobi after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel group M23 announced that it was ready to disengage and withdraw.

In a letter dated Tuesday, December 6, the group announced that it was ready to retreat from the occupied territory in the east of the country.

The group also indicated that it wanted to meet the East African Community (EAC) force, with Kenya's fourth president as the facilitator. Uhuru had concluded the Nairobi Process where he signed a series of deals.

President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and President Evariste Ndayishimiye. /TWITTER

"The M23 Movement confirms its maintenance of the ceasefire. Regarding the implementation of the said recommendations, the M23 is ready to start disengagement and withdraw, even though it was not represented in the said summit.

"The M23 reiterates its readiness to the direct dialogue with the DRC government in order to find a lasting solution to the root causes of the conflict in the Eastern DRC," the statement by the group spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka read.

The M23 added that it was ready for direct dialogue with the DRC government in order to find a lasting solution to the root causes of the conflict in Eastern DRC.

The closing session came after an earlier planned event failed to take off after several delegates protested about unpaid allowances.

“I am not angry, I can see that the issue we had yesterday has been sorted out, and we are grateful, to our colleagues from the secretariat of the East African Community, kindly if we plan and promise on issues, let us stick by them so that we do not disrupt the process because of poor logistics, these delegates are here for the peace process and we must accord them better hospitality, he revealed in a twist of events.

The week-long event in Nairobi began on Monday, November 28, and brought together over 50 armed groups, victims of atrocities taking place in eastern DRC, civil society, special interest groups and government officials.

Among the agreed-upon deals between him and DRC president Felix Tshisekedi included:

1. Release of individuals arrested by virtue of their tribe and Lack of Criminal Records- Kenyatta stated that a committee will be formed together with religious; leaders to look into the names of the individuals to fast-track their release.
2. Involvement of communities living in the nearby forest areas to be employed as forest wardens, to protect the forest and their participation in eco-friendly projects with the government.
3. Rebels lay down their weapons and join the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS)program and be enjoined in projects to develop their country.
4. Stakeholder meetings with Mining Companies; by December or early January, a meeting in Kinshasa with companies in disagreement with communities living around mine areas until a solution is brokered to resolve the impasse.
5. Army Recruitment; There will be a process for joining the army through the P-DDRCS program in recruiting army personnel as is used in normal processes
6. Interrogation of the P-DDRCS Program; there will be further engagement with the national government to build consensus in the implementation of the program.

Uhuru has been fighting for three months to achieve peace in the DRC since being appointed by President William Ruto as the peace envoy to Ethiopia and the Great Lakes Region and was tasked with resolving conflicts in DRC and Ethiopia.

President William Ruto holding up the ceremonial sword on September 13, 2022 at Kasarani Stadium. /WILLIAM RUTO