Ruto calls for dialogue between DRC, M23 rebels amid rising tensions
Dismissing the possibility of a military solution, Ruto stressed the importance of understanding the root causes of the long-running conflict.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who chairs the East African Community (EAC), has called for direct engagement between the Congolese government and M23 rebels, who have captured the strategic city of Goma in eastern Congo.
"Engagement, dialogue, and consultations are the only viable way out of the situation in DRC," Ruto told journalists in Nairobi after meeting African leaders attending a retreat on AU reforms.
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Dismissing the possibility of a military solution, Ruto stressed the importance of understanding the root causes of the long-running conflict.
His remarks come a day after he announced an emergency summit of regional leaders to address the deteriorating security situation.
Both Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi have reportedly agreed to attend.
However, Ruto's call for dialogue is likely to face resistance from Kinshasa, which strongly opposes any engagement with the M23, a group it labels as a terrorist organization backed by Rwanda.
While Kigali denies supporting M23, it has consistently advocated for negotiations between the rebels and the Congolese government.
Ruto's shifting stance
Ruto's remarks raise questions about his approach to the DRC crisis and its implications for regional diplomacy.
His handling of the situation has previously angered Congolese authorities, particularly when he compared it to Kenya's domestic political rivalry, a comment seen as dismissive of the gravity of the conflict.
Tshisekedi has publicly accused Ruto of meddling in DRC's internal affairs. In a May 2024 interview with Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Ruto downplayed Rwanda's role in the crisis, arguing that M23 fighters are Congolese.
"How is the M23 Kagame's problem? It's a Congolese problem," he said, adding that during an EAC heads of state meeting, Kinshasa itself had confirmed that M23 fighters were Congolese.
Ruto also echoed M23's argument: "Do we surrender our arms before having a conversation, or do we engage in dialogue first?"
These statements further strained relations with Kinshasa, which has since remained cold toward any Kenyan-led peace initiatives.
Accusations of bias
Tshisekedi has accused Ruto of hijacking the Nairobi Peace Process initially led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and of openly siding with Rwanda.
Speaking at a Brookings Institution session last year, Tshisekedi described the EAC-led peace initiative as "mishandled" and "dead." He suggested that Kenyatta remained the official facilitator but bluntly added, "I must confess, President Ruto is supporting Rwanda, and I won't say anything more about that."
Since taking office in September 2022, Ruto has been involved in DRC peace efforts. In November 2022, he oversaw the deployment of Kenyan troops under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), framing the mission as peace enforcement rather than peacekeeping.
However, Nairobi's ties with Kinshasa have deteriorated, with the Congolese government refusing to accredit Kenya's ambassador, Shem Amadi, for over a year.
Adding to the tension, Corneille Nangaa, the former DRC electoral commission chief now leading an armed insurgency with M23's backing, launched his movement at Nairobi's Serena Hotel. This sparked protests from the Congolese government, which accused Kenya of allowing its territory to be used for destabilization efforts.
Despite the controversy, Ruto has defended Kenya's position. In a televised interview, he dismissed calls to extradite rebels to DRC, insisting that "Kenya is a democracy."
As regional leaders prepare to meet for urgent talks, Ruto's latest push for dialogue with M23 may further complicate his already fraught relationship with Kinshasa.
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