Inside Uhuru Kenyatta's Trip in DRC, to Meet Rebels

President Uhuru Kenyatta greets leaders after arrival in Kinshasa, DRC, on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
President Uhuru Kenyatta greets leaders after arrival in Kinshasa, DRC, on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
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After brokering a deal between Ethiopian Government and Tigray rebels, former President Uhuru Kenyatta already set off for his next peace assignment.

On Sunday, November 13, the former Head of State touched down at Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) ahead of the meeting.

On his plate is a scheduled meeting between the Congolese Government and Congolese armed groups.

His trip in the Central African country is slated to last for two days and he is also expected to meet other world leaders including East African Community heads of state summit chairpersons advisers.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta lands in Bunjumbura, Burundi on November 4, 2022.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta lands in Bujumbura, Burundi on November 4, 2022.
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Ntare Rushatsi

The former Head of State arrived at Aeroport International De N’djili in Kinshasha just a day after Kenyan troops cleared to spearhead a peace mission in DRC landed.

"The former Kenyan president will also meet the presidents of the two chambers of parliament (National Assembly and Senate), members of the government, diplomats and representatives of local communities, leaders of religious denominations, traditional chiefs and women's associations of the provinces of Ituri, North and South Kivu who have travelled from Kinshasa to meet and exchange with the team of President Uhuru on Monday," read a statement from Ndashimiye's team.

In DRC, Uhuru is also slated to hold talks with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.

On Saturday, November 12, Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi flagged off a contingent of soldiers to DRC from Embakasi  Garrison.

The deployment came days after Parliament approved 900 troops to be flown to DRC to help its government restore peace after years of battling the M23 rebels.

“You are the arrowheads, you are making history being the first team going on a peace keeping mission under the East Africa Community therefore write a good one. Kenya has good peace keeping record and I hope you maintain the same. Politically and diplomatically you are there for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration,” directed Kibochi.

Calls for dialogue between the warring parties, however, left a bad taste in the mouth's of regional leaders with some advocating for use of force to repel the rebels.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta (Right) with President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo at State House, Nairobi. December 10, 2019.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta (Right) with President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo at State House, Nairobi. December 10, 2019.
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