Yet another round of talks in Narobi, the second in 12 months to try and find a lasting solution to the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This time though, the players have increased threefold; with 12 African countries, the UN, US, and the EU all chipping in to see whether the Congolese people, especially those living in the eastern pat of the country can sleep at ease.

Going by the number of regional countries who attended the meeting, it is obvious that at last they have seen the dangers of having a neighbour with a contagious disease if no preventive measures are taken.

However, despite the goodwill shown by all who were in Nairobi yesterday, it remains to be seen whether its not the same old story: talk, agree, fail to implement.

Despite the Billion dollars poured annually in the "peacekeeping” efforts, the UN has failed miserably in their mandate and are instead looking for scapegoats for their missteps, and possibly for a never-ending mandate to fill their pockets at the expense of the millions in DRC.

But will DRC this time pick the courage and disarm the FDLR rebels who have a free run of the country? How far are the regional countries ready to go to see that past agreements to bring an end to the fighting are implemented?

Former Presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Olesegun Obasanjo of Tanzania and Nigeria respectively have an uphill task of putting the DRC house in order, but will they convince the protagonists in the Congo to deliver?

The hopes of the people have been falsely raised in the past - - let us hope this is not another same old replay of the past.

Ends