DRC Government Concludes First Round Of Peace Talks With Rebel Groups In Nairobi

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) government has concluded the first round of peace talks in Nairobi with representatives of several armed groups operating in the eastern region, the Congolese presidency said on Thursday, reported TRT World.

“After 5 days of intense work, the peace consultations … ended this Wednesday, April 27, at least for the first stage of this process,” the Congolese presidency said.

The presidency said that nearly 30 delegates representing the armed groups of Ituri, North and South Kivu took part in the talks with emissaries of the DRC President Felix Tshisekedi. It added that more meetings would follow in the coming weeks.

The DRC, a nation of some 90 million people, is struggling to contain dozens of rebel groups in the east of the nation. Last week, the Kenyan government announced that Nairobi would host talks between the Kinshasa government and rebel groups.

The Nairobi talks began just a month after the DRC was admitted to the regional East African Community (EAC), a seven-nation bloc with a single market allowing free trade and movement of citizens.

Last week, the leaders of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC said they were also looking at establishing a regional force to neutralize rebel groups operating in the region.

All foreign military groups in the DRC were urged to disarm immediately and return to their countries of origin.

In a separate statement released on Thursday, the Kenyan presidency called on different armed groups in DR Congo to lay down their weapons and work with President Felix Tshisekedi in nurturing peace and stability.

“This is a process that will take into account all concerns,” the Kenyan government’s statement quoted the DRC President Tshisekedi as saying. “We are going to obtain the technical and other support from many donors to enable us to succeed.”

The peace talks were held ahead of Pope Francis’ upcoming journey to the DRC from July 2 to 5.