Uhuru Kenyatta, the EAC’s designated facilitator for the crisis in eastern DRC, recently attended a meeting in Goma (North Kivu) to discuss the security situation in the region and preparations for the cantonment of rebels from M23. This meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Defense Jean-Pierre Bemba and diplomatic delegations, aimed to find solutions for peace.
The path of negotiation and political dialogue is strongly recommended by many regional and international actors to resolve this crisis. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently stressed during his visit to Kinshasa that negotiation is key to reaching a lasting settlement.
The European Union has also expressed its support for this approach, believing that political dialogue is preferable to military confrontation, as it would make it possible to end the conflict and reduce the suffering of populations.
The central issue at this meeting was the cantonment of M23 fighters. A suitable site at Rumangabo, 50 km north of Goma, had been selected, but the rebellion said it was not involved in the process.
The M23 continues to demand a direct dialogue with Kinshasa. This new approach to “negotiating peace” adopted by the Congolese government follows the Nairobi and Luanda processes which, so far, have not led to real progress on the ground, because the rebels have still not evacuated the territories they occupy.
This meeting in Goma is therefore an important opportunity to discuss and find peaceful solutions to end the crisis in eastern DRC. The efforts of all actors involved are needed to achieve a lasting resolution and ensure the safety and well-being of the populations of the region.