Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, April 13, revealed the greatest challenge in restoring peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a four-page document, Uhuru informed the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, that there is a lack of trust between warring parties.
"The critical challenge has been building trust between the various fighting elements and governments as well as the communities, especially those affected by the insecurity," he stated.
Uhuru, who doubles as the Facilitator of the process, assured Xia that the Nairobi IV process would prioritise addressing the issue.
He called for more support for both the political and military track of the Nairobi Process. Notably, the former head of state called on the backing of the East African Regional Force (EAC-RF) by regional countries.
"EAC-RF must continue to enjoy the confidence of all parties if it is to be successful in its mandate. Its role as an inter-positional army needs to be re-emphasised and accepted by all parties," the document read in part.
Meanwhile, Uhuru called on the international community to look into the humanitarian condition of the population in the conflicting region.
He noted that the situation of the refugees and the internally displaced people, particularly their security, relocation, resettlement, and rebuilding of their lives was a vital concern.
In addition, the ex-President revealed challenges facing the armed forces deployed in the area. He pointed out that they needed to be provided with food, water, and accommodation.
Uhuru emphasised the need for coordination between the Nairobi Process and the Luanda Process for the success and peace-building efforts in the DRC.
He called on the international community to join the East African Community (EAC)-led process to expedite the achieving peacebuilding in the DRC.
Kenyatta noted that limiting the diversity of engagements and mechanisms in Eastern DRC, especially bilateral and multilateral initiatives undermined the processes.
