Mudavadi: Supporting Peace Process in DRC is Urgent

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has stated that peace-building in DRC is a matter that should be treated with urgency. Mudavadi explained the need for renewed and concerted efforts towards addressing the humanitarian and security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo adding that security situation in DRC is currently fragile.

Speaking in Harare, Zimbabwe after co-chairing the joint ministerial meeting for the East African Community, EAC, and the Southern African Development Community, SADC, Mudavadi revealed that Eastern DRC conflict evolves into worrying forms that puts human security in the region under huge threat.

“The directive by the Heads of State and Government to merge the Luanda and Nairobi processes calls for EAC and SADC to consider accelerating a unified process to avoid duplication of outcomes geared towards the same goal. We need to fast-track the immediate, medium and long-term implementation measures including resource and finance mobilization capacities aimed at supporting the peace process.” He said.

Mudavadi emphasized on the need to hold peaceful talks between the involved parties, regretting that several illegal armed groups escalating tge violence.

“It is high time the consolidation and adoption of key resolutions takes place before the situation further runs out of control,” added Mudavadi.

The PSC also called for immediate cessation of hostilities and ceasefire as a precursor to the ongoing peace initiatives, reiterating on the significance of it for all warrying parties. He stated that there ought to be willingness from the warryung parties to dialogue in search of a long-lasting solution.

Monday’s ministers’ meeting deliberated on among other issues the report by the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defence following the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam meetings, and addressed other residual issues related to the attainment of sustainable peace and security in eastern DRC.

Mudavadi presented Kenya’s position vouching for non-partisan, non-coercive and collective process based on diplomatic and political initiatives collectively driven by African leadership.

“As we look into a future, we need to calibrate mechanisms where African problems and challenges get African solutions through Africa led processes. Many other countries outside Africa have now shown clear signs that they are focusing on their own issues and this is a wake-up call for Africa,” Mudavadi noted.