The government of Rwanda has expressed its concern over the DR Congo “apparent abandonment” of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.
The Nairobi and Luanda processes were established in 2022 to help restore peace in eastern DR Congo, where more than 120 local and foreign armed groups roam.
“Rwanda notes with regret the 18 January 2023 statement of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is a selective reading of the Luanda Communiqué of 23 November 2022,” reads part of the statement released on Thursday, January 19.
“The DRC statement avoids key decisions of the November summit, and concludes with what can only be seen as a threat of imminent attacks on Rwanda.”
On Wednesday, Congolese activists took to streets in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, calling for the departure of the East African Community Regional Force deployed in 2022 to support the peace processes.
“The staged demonstrations against the EAC Regional Force, in Goma and other parts of the DRC, constitute part of a plan by the DRC military and government to exit the Nairobi/Luanda peace processes,” the statement said.
“The goal of the demonstrations appears to be to cause the departure of the force, whereas the Luanda Communiqué calls for ‘Continued full deployment of the EAC Regional Force’.”
source: newtimes
