Efforts towards lasting peace between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have reached third round of consultation.
The consultation, which is currently in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi with a plan to discuss reforms that will facilitate disarmament of rebel groups.
The opening session was attended in person by Kenya’s President William Ruto and Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye while the presidents of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda attended virtually.
Former Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, who facilitated on the day is also one of regional bloc’s East African Community (EAC), reiterated that the aim was to discuss political process and institutional reforms that will ensure an environment that is conducive for the disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration of armed groups in the DRC.
EAC secretary general, Peter Mathuki, said some of the groups were present in the Monday talks but did not specify which ones they were.
Leaders of Rwanda, Burundi, and Angola met last week in Luanda to find a solution to the conflict in eastern Congo, which has forced thousands to flee their homes.
An idea of negotiation between the government and the rebel group has been muted. But Congo DR’s foreign minister Christophe Lutundula said: “It won’t happen. I can reassure you on behalf of the government and the President of the Republic.”The M23 is a rebel military group based in eastern areas of the DRC, mainly operating in the province of North Kivu.