Uhuru appointed to co-facilitate merged Nairobi-Luanda peace processes on DRC conflict
The other facilitators are Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ethiopia's former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
A joint summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) has appointed former president Uhuru Kenyatta as a co-facilitator of the merged Nairobi-Luanda peace process on the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The other facilitators who will be working with Uhuru are Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ethiopia's former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
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This is according to a communique released Monday evening by President William Ruto, the chairperson of the EAC, who also reiterated calls for a ceasefire in eastern DRC.
"Considering the above developments, all actors are urged to observe the ceasefire announced by the EAC-SADC Summit, and the M23 and all other actors are called upon to cease any further advancements in eastern DRC and to observe and abide by an immediate ceasefire," the communique said.
The communique agreed with calls by multiple states to have the two processes resume peace talks.
It was released hours after the High Representative of the European Union's Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, announced the suspension of defence consultations with Kigali due to the "involvement of Rwandan troops alongside M23 rebels in the eastern part of the DRC".
"Consultations on defence issues with Rwanda have been suspended. There is also a political decision to apply sanctions in line with developments on the ground. We have asked Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the territory of the DRC," she said.
Meanwhile, the latest update on the humanitarian situation in the region that was released by Relief Web last week shows that the security situation in Goma remains relatively calm, with a gradual resumption of socio-economic activities.
Traffic has resumed along major supply routes of Goma-Rutshuru and Goma-Sake-Minova roads, facilitating the supply of food products to the city as several humanitarian organisations resumed operations in Goma.
"However, schools and universities remain closed in the city and surrounding areas," the update shows, adding that outside Goma, the security situation in North Kivu remains precarious as acts of criminality and targeted violence by armed groups are reported daily.
MSF worker killed
On Saturday, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) lost one of its employees, Jerry Muhindo Kavali, from the gunshot wound he suffered while at the organisation's base in Masisi town, North Kivu, during clashes between the Wazalendo and the M23 two days earlier
At the same time, three humanitarian workers from the NGO HEKS/EPER were killed by armed men in the village of Kabirangiriro, North Kivu on February 5 as more humanitarian organisations continue reporting motor vehicle thefts.
Relief Web further noted that since January 22, access to electricity in Goma has been severely disrupted due to clashes in South Kivu, which damaged the power line connecting Bukavu to Goma, thereby critically impacting health facilities reliant on the National Electricity Company (SNEL), hindering the use of essential medical equipment as well as looting of their warehouses.
"Additionally, water supply has been cut, forcing families to rely on water from Lake Kivu, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, including cholera."
Meanwhile, Goma International Airport remains closed, severely affecting humanitarian operations.
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