President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is in Nairobi, Kenya for an emergency meeting with regional leaders to find solutions for he growing insecurity and targeted killings in the Goma areas of the DR Congo. Museveni together with other EAC leaders are convening for the 3rd East African Community (EAC) conclave on the peace and security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The meeting was called by the East African Community Chairman and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to stem fighting and agree on the deployment of a regional force to fight the M23 rebel group.
“The situation of peace and security, particularly in eastern DRC is preponderant. The people have long suffered and continue to pay an inordinately heavy price in loss of lives, property and elusive peace,” a statement by the Kenyan presidency said.
According to the statement, the third East African Heads of State Conclave on Inter-Congolese Dialogue of the Nairobi Process on the peace and security situation in Eastern Congo will seek to augment earlier meetings by the regional leaders meant to bring lasting peace in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
The meeting comes a day after regional army commanders met in Nairobi to discuss final details in regards the forthcoming deployment of a regional joint force in DRC.
President Kenyatta has since directed that a regional standby force be immediately deployed in Democratic Republic of Congo to help solve the worsening situation.
“The East African Regional Force shall be deployed to the Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces immediately to stabilize the zone and enforce peace in support of the DRC security forces and in close coordination with MONUSCO,” he said.
