The Rwandan government has called upon the UN Security Council to support ongoing regional efforts which complement the existing peace and security framework to build sustainable peace in the great lakes region.

Amb. Claver Gatete, the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the UN delivered the appeal on Wednesday during the Security Council briefing on implementation of the peace and security framework in the great lakes region.

Wednesday’s briefing, Amb Gatete noted, was important on three counts including the fact that the great lakes region is experiencing positive political developments and normalisation of relations that drive the momentum of regional cooperation and greater integration.

"This meeting also comes at an opportune moment when the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently joined the East African Community which is another milestone towards achieving security in the region,” Amb Gatete said.

He noted that Rwanda is encouraged by the measures taken during the second regional Heads of State conclave on DR Congo hosted by EAC Chairperson, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, on April 21, three weeks after DR Congo  officially joined the now seven-member regional economic bloc.

There is optimism that Congolese armed groups that are now parties to the dialogue in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, will flow with the dedication and commitment that guarantees progress towards a durable solution.

Rwanda, Amb. Gatete said, welcomes the outcome of the April 21 meeting which includes a political process that involves domestic armed groups in DR Congo and disarmament and repatriation of all foreign armed groups. The new regional initiative which is supported by the African Union is expected to restore peace and stability in DR Congo.

The regional initiative is an outcome of the first and second Heads of State conclaves on the peace and security situation in DR Congo under the chairmanship of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta held on April 8 and 21, respectively, at State House Nairobi. During the second meeting, Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo, Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Kenyatta and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, as well as Rwanda’s foreign minister Dr Vincent Biruta, agreed to the deployment of a regional force to help contain armed groups holed up in DR Congo.

"Successful DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) of armed groups are key to creating and maintaining sustainable peace and development in the great lakes region,” the Rwandan diplomat said.

"We, therefore, call upon the Security Council to support these regional efforts which complement the existing peace and security framework to build sustainable peace in the great lakes region.”

Addressing security is not enough, he said, adding that it is imperative that cooperation in economic development in the great lakes region also be strengthened.

"This is already being done through regional investment and cross-border trade that exists in both the central and northern corridors of East Africa which facilitates the smooth movement of goods and people.

The Rwandan envoy reaffirmed his country’s unwavering commitment to peace, security, and development "in our region and beyond.”

Issues raised by representatives of armed groups in Nairobi

Inter-DR Congo peace dialogue meetings are ongoing in Nairobi with representatives from 24 armed groups.

Good progress is being made and the discussions are honest and frank among the more than 80 delegates in attendance, Amb. Isaiya Kabira, the Director General in charge of international conferences, media events and communications in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday, April 27.

On day six, April 27, of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue in Nairobi, the common issues raised by the groups include the concern that most of them signed agreements with local or national government authorities of the DR Congo and are in the process of implementing them but there are issues around implementation that remain pending.

They also raised confidence building measures such as release of political prisoners, hinting that amnesty to their leaders and arbitrary arrests threaten the peace process. 

While nine groups accepted to ceasefire and even handed over weapons and demobilized some forces symbolically, they still keep arms because of absence of state security and fear of attacks by foreign forces. Most of the groups called for ways to jumpstart livelihoods and provision of basic services such as health centres, schools, infrastructure, water and other services in order assist communities to settle.

All the armed groups called for repatriation of refugees who sought refuge in the DR Congo back to their own countries.

Also emphasized by most groups is the need to repatriate Congolese returnees from other countries to participate in the development of their country and to help deal with the insecurity issues.

Most groups want to see a more transparent DDR process that ensures that issues affecting child soldiers, injured combatants, training, ranking, and service are clearly considered.