US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday reached out to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, a call which centred around the escalating conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement issued by the Department of State, it was revealed that Blinken emphasised the importance of the Nairobi Process in providing a pathway to reconciliation with armed groups.
America's top diplomat remarked that Uhuru and other regional leaders were playing a valuable role in assisting DRC and Rwanda in implementing the confidence-building measures.
"The Secretary emphasized the valuable role of regional leaders in assisting the DRC and Rwanda in implementing commitments made in their discussions with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and other senior U.S. officials," read part of the statement.
Uhuru has been leading the peacekeeping mission alongside other leaders in his capacity as East Africa Facilitator at DRC and Kenya’s peace envoy to the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
Part of his mandate includes; mediating between the DRC government and local armed groups terrorising the citizens.
The former Head of State has been lauded by regional leaders including President William Ruto who has previously noted that Uhuru was doing commendable work in restoring peace.
In 2023, Uhuru received financial backing from foreign powers to aid his mission in DRC. Despite the funding, Uhuru noted that one of the challenges he was facing was a lack of trust from the fighting groups.
"The Facilitator appeals to all parties engaged in such acts to immediately cease their armed offensives and hostilities, to allow continued unhindered and sustained humanitarian access and to give a chance to a return to peace and the pursuit of a non-military solution to the crisis in the region through the EAC Led Nairobi Peace Process," Uhuru stated in October last year.
Due to his efforts, Uhuru was awarded the National Order of the Republic of Burundi award (the highest award of honour in Burundi).
The United States has been championing the end of the war in DRC. In 2022, the US Department of State called upon the M23 armed group to cease fire.
