Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Kenya. The president of the Republic of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta met in Uganda last week to discuss the regional mandate alongside recent developments in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Uhuru, the Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC) – led the Nairobi Peace Process for the region at State House Entebbe on 7th February 2024.
Confirmation
The Ugandan Presidential Press Unit (PPU) issued a statement to inform the General Public that the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Gen. (Rtd). Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, met the former President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, the Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC) – led Nairobi Peace Process. Also, a post on Museveni’s social media platforms shared brief notes about the meeting. “This afternoon at State House, Entebbe I met with the Facilitator of the EAC-led Nairobi Peace Process, H.E. President (Rtd). Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss the regional mandate alongside recent developments in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” President Museveni said. President Museveni and Uhuru’s recent meeting raised eyebrows since this was the second time the two leaders met in less than a month. On 24th January this year Uhuru jetted into Uganda for a private visit to President Museveni.
EAC NPP Initiative
This was in accordance with the resolutions made and approved by the East African Regional Heads of State conclave held on April 21, 2022, in Nairobi, Extra-Ordinary Summit of East African Presidents (Bujumbura) on February 4, 2023, and the decisions of the Chief of Defense Forces of February 9, 2023, in Nairobi. The EAC-led Nairobi Peace Process is a regional peace initiative aimed at resolving the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It was launched based on principles of inclusivity, dialogue, ownership, regional leadership, and international support. Uhuru was appointed by the EAC Heads of State as the Facilitator to champion peace and oversee the implementation of the Nairobi Process. He is tasked to coordinate and lead a comprehensive peace process, involving political dialogue and military interventions.
EAC NPP in DRC
As diplomatic relations between neighbouring countries worsened, the East African Community brokered the Nairobi Process. It is one of two recent efforts to address the crisis – the other being the Luanda Process. The two initiatives have different but complementary formats. While Nairobi focuses on armed groups, Luanda addresses the DRC-Rwanda political dimensions – a reminder of the 2013 Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, which has not been implemented. The Nairobi Process calls for an immediate ceasefire, the repatriation of foreign militaries, and adherence by local armed groups to the newly established Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program. It authorizes the deployment of a regional force in eastern DR Congo to confront those who do not heed the disarmament call.
Uganda Army withdraws from DR Congo
In December 2023, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) completed the total withdrawal from the war-torn province of North Kivu, eastern DR Congo. This followed the DR Congo government declining to renew the mandate of East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) troops that were in the province under a peacekeeping mission that expired on December 8, 2023. Congo’s decline was sparked by a section of civilians and political activists accusing the troops of failure to launch an assault against the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.
Disgruntlement
The government of Uganda was dissatisfied with the DR Congo’s decision to decline to renew the mandate of EACRF. According to Col Hyeroba, the decision to withdraw EACRF troops from North Kivu province was made prematurely because the disarmament and integration program was not achieved. He suggested that the problem in the area can only be solved by dialogue, not war. The mandate of troops from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan deployed in North Kivu province in late 2022 was to reclaim positions that were previously held by the M23 rebels after they defeated the Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers and to establish a buffer zone to prevent further clashes between M23 rebels and FARDC soldiers.
About EAC
The East African Community is an intergovernmental organization made up of seven East African countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan. It was founded in the 1960s and collapsed in 1977. Uganda and Kenya are founding members of the original EAC, which collapsed due to ideological differences and territorial disputes within itself, but in 2000, the two countries together with Tanzania reestablished the EAC. With the intention of improving trade and bilateral ties between Uganda and Kenya.
Surprises
Last month President Uhuru surprised many people when his arrival in DR Congo aboard the Uganda Airlines plane. Uhuru landed in DRC Congo ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Felix Tshisekedi on Saturday 20, 2024. Many Kenyans took to social media to question how the former President could travel via a plane from the neighbouring country’s airline yet Kenya has its own.
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