President Uhuru Kenyatta held a high-level regional security meeting with his counterparts from the East African Community (EAC) at State House Nairobi on Thursday, April 21.
In a statement sent to the newsrooms, it was revealed that the meeting was convened to discuss the insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The leaders noted that the ongoing conflict was a threat to regional peace and adopted a raft of resolutions.
Present at the meeting was President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), President ÉVariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), and President Felix Tshisekedi (DRC). Rwanda's President Paul Kagame missed the meeting but was represented by his Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta.
It was resolved that Uhuru leads negotiations for a political truce between the DRC government and the local armed forces that have occupied the country.
Additionally, Uhuru offered to host the first consultative meeting between the two groups in Nairobi scheduled for tomorrow.
"It was resolved that a secretariat be formed to oversee the implementation of the agreements arrived at the meeting. The Secretariat will be administered by the Special Envoy in the Office of the President of the DRC, and the Special Envoy in the Office of the President of Kenya.
"The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya is designated to play this role in ad interim with the participation of representatives from the Executive Offices of the other Heads of State of the East African Community," read the statement in part.
The Head of States also resolved to form a regional military force to contain the conflict in the country. They also warned foreign armed groups operating in the country insisting that they will be treated as enemies if they did not heed the notice to evacuate.
"Towards this end, the meeting directed that planning for such a force commence with immediate effect with the full consultation of relevant authorities in the region.
"All armed groups in the DRC participate unconditionally in the political process to resolve their grievances. That failure to do so, All Congolese Armed groups would be considered negative forces and handled militarily by the region," read the statement in part.
The regional leaders will meet after a month to discuss the progress of their resolutions.
