While the facilitator of the East African region for the crisis in the east of the DRC, Uhuru Kenyatta, has recorded the effective deployment of contingents from four countries (Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, DRC), and Uganda, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, Uganda, South Africa, has confirmed the effective deployment of troops from four countries (Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Sudan, DRC), and Uganda, has confirmed the effective deployment of troops from four countries.

DRC: Kenyatta facilitator raises possibility of M23 return to Nairobi process

South Sudanese forces arrive in Goma to participate in the EAC deployment in eastern DRC, April 2, 2023. © Glody Murhabazi / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

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While the East African region's facilitator for the crisis in eastern DRC, Uhuru Kenyatta, has acknowledged the effective deployment of troops from four countries (Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan and Burundi), he has raised the possibility of the M23 rebels returning to the negotiating table, which the DRC has so far refused. Because, although the deadline of March 30 for a total withdrawal of the M23 has passed, the former Kenyan president ensures that the operations are taking their course.

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The tone of Uhuru Kenyatta's statement, issued on April 3, is rather optimistic: he takes note of the good deployment of the various contingents and assures that the M23 rebels have withdrawn from localities now occupied by the forces of the East African Community (EAC). These are several towns in Masisi, but also Bunagana.

The former Kenyan president also announces the upcoming deadlines. According to the sheet validated by the region, the last town to be returned by the M23 must be Kiwandja, and the withdrawal is now scheduled for April 15.

Another interesting point in this communiqué is the opening of Uhuru Kenyatta for the M23 to integrate the Nairobi process, i.e. the negotiations between the Congolese government and armed groups that began in April 2022. Several sessions have already taken place, including last December.

So far, these discussions have taken place without the M23. The group had been excluded from the first round in the Kenyan capital, at the request of the Kinshasa authorities, while a delegation had arrived on the spot.

The next meetings are scheduled to begin in the second half of April. This time, it will no longer be in Kenya, but in the DRC: there is talk of sessions in Kinshasa, but also Bukavu, Goma and Bunia. More than forty armed groups had participated in the discussions in December, they could be even more numerous this time.

This is on condition that Kinshasa accepts the presence of the M23. On Monday (March 3rd), the government spokesman again reaffirmed the Congolese position: "no negotiations with the M23," Muyaya said.

► Read also: In eastern DRC, displaced people are multi-traumatized populations

DRC: Kenyatta facilitator raises possibility of M23 return to Nairobi process

DRC: Kenyatta facilitator raises possibility of M23 return to Nairobi process

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