South Sudan’s Kiir, Tshisekedi discuss regional peace efforts

March 25, 2024 (KINSHASA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi have renewed efforts to end the eastern DRC crisis.

On Monday, the two leaders called for the swift revival of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. The initiatives refer to African regional efforts to ease the tension in the eastern DRC, including meetings in the Angolan and Kenyan capitals.

These earlier peace initiatives aim at finding a lasting solution to the conflict in the eastern DRC.

The meeting, held in the DRC capital, Kinshasa, further highlighted the crucial role of peace and security in fostering socio-economic development within the East African Community (EAC).

Tshisekedi emphasized that the current crisis stems from the actions of the Rwandan regime, not the Rwandan people. He expressed a desire for peaceful coexistence between the two nations.

The renewed push for peace talks suggests a regional commitment to resolving the conflict in eastern DRC. However, the success of these efforts hinges on cooperation among regional leaders.

President Kiir earlier held a consultative meeting with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame.

The discussions, as outlined in the communique released by the EAC secretariat Friday, focused on the critical status of peace and security within the EAC, a regional bloc that groups Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania as well as Somalia.

Both leaders, the communique noted, emphasized the pivotal role of peace and security in fostering social and economic development within the community and achieving the objectives of the EAC.

They called on partner states to comply with their obligations as enshrined in the treaty for the establishment of the EAC. The two leaders underscored the need for expeditious complimentary implementation of the political track of the EAC-led Nairobi process and the Luanda process to avert the unfolding dire security situation in the eastern DRC which risks spilling to other nations.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, an accusation rejected by the two parties.

During his one-day visit to Burundi on Friday, Kiir met President Evariste Ndayishimiye, where they recommended the respect and implementation of agreements to solve regional conflicts.

A communique issued at the end of the consultative meeting between both presidents showed that they discussed regional issues like the tension between Burundi, Rwanda and eastern DRC crisis.

“Both leaders noted the need for the two sister states of Burundi and Rwanda to ensure the implementation of all previously agreed upon commitments arising out of the bilateral dialogue between the two countries,” said EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki who read the communique, adding that the implementation of those commitments will energize the implementation of the EAC integration imperatives that include free movement of people, goods and services.

Regarding the crisis in eastern DRC, the communique said that both heads of state also reaffirmed their commitment to the EAC-led Nairobi process and “underscored the need for implementation with the Luanda process to avert further deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC.

(ST)