Kingi lauds Great Lake states for peacekeeping efforts

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Kingi lauds Great Lake states for peacekeeping efforts
Kingi lauds Great Lake states for peacekeeping efforts

Africa-Press – Kenya. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has hailed governments in the Great Lakes region for deploying peacekeeping troops in DR Congo. However, he has regretted that the lack of peace and political instability in the region remains a painful thorn in the flesh.

Kingi singled out the Parliament of Kenya, for acting fast in approval of the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces into the DRC. He noted that parliaments in the region are duty-bound to not only support reconciliation efforts but also leverage their direct political influence to rally citizens to take part in sustainable peace efforts.

“We commend the governments in the region for the deployment of peacekeeping troops in Eastern DRC,” the speaker said.

Kingi promised to ensure that parliaments engage more robustly with the heads of state as they shepherd processes seeking to have warring parties lay down arms and give peace a chance.

The Speaker spoke on Thursday when he presided over the opening ceremony of the Plenary Assembly of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) in Juba, South Sudan.

The Forum is an Inter-Parliamentary organisation whose role is to promote peace, security, stability and development in the Region through parliamentary action and diplomacy.

Membership of the Forum comprises Parliaments drawn from 12 Member States spread across the Great Lakes Region. Three member states—Central African Republic (CAR), DRC, South Sudan and Sudan have remained vulnerable over instability that has displaced many in the areas.

The IDPs have triggered a major humanitarian crisis across the region, causing a violation of the rights of vulnerable groups mainly women, children and people living with disabilities.

Parliament in November last year approved the deployment of a KDF soldiers battalion in the DRC. President William Ruto described the deployment as necessary for regional security.

Violence by armed groups in the eastern part has led to a diplomatic crisis between DRC and neighbouring Rwanda, which accuse each other of backing certain groups.

Kingi, who is the outgoing President of the FP-ICGLR, revealed that under his watch the Forum had fully supported all peace efforts and conflict resolution initiatives aimed at pacifying affected member-states and allowing the populations people to return to their homes.

Last January, Kingi undertook a working visit to the FP-ICGLR headquarters in Kinshasa, DRC where he held talks with ambassadors from member states accredited in Kinshasa on the conflicts and processes aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.

“The engagement with diplomats gave me vital insights on the conflicts. These perspectives should nudge legislatures to deploy Parliamentary Diplomacy and actively work with heads of states in seeking solutions to interstate conflicts,” he said Mandera Senator Ali Roba led the delegation of Kenyan MPs to the meeting that ends today (Saturday).

Senator Roba had on Tuesday presided over the 26th Ordinary session of the Executive Committee of the FP-ICGLR which reviewed recent developments in the political, security and humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes Region which will be discussed during the Assembly.

The Plenary Assembly will on Saturday discuss the updated version of draft resolutions on the political, security and humanitarian situation of the Central African Republic (CAR), DR Congo, South Sudan and the Sudan.

The highlight of the Forum’s conference was the elections of members to the Bureau of Permanent Committees. Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri was elected the chairperson of the Committee on Democracy and Good Governance and Kiminini MP Maurice Kakai Bisau chair of the Committee on Peace and Security.

Kenya is also represented in other permanent committees of the Forum; the Committee on Economic Development, Natural Resources and Regional Integration where Senator Roba is a member.

The Committee on Humanitarian and Social Issues where Isiolo Woman Rep Mumina Gollo Bonaya is a member and the Committee on Women, Children and Vulnerable Persons where Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian is a member.

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