DRC: President Félix Tshisekedi’s remarks on the marked failure of the peace process led by his counterpart William Ruto
During an analytical discussion organized by the Africa Security Initiative and the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative, President Félix Tshisekedi sharply criticized his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto’s management of the Nairobi peace process.
The cessation of hostilities in North Kivu, DR Congo, has been a concern for several peace initiatives, including the Nairobi and Luanda processes. However, these efforts have failed to achieve the desired outcome of establishing lasting peace in the region.
Recently, in a discussion initiated by the Africa Security Initiative and the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi criticized the management of the Nairobi peace process by Kenyan President William Ruto. This critique sheds light on the underlying reasons for the failure of these initiatives.
Tshisekedi pointed to the poor handling of the Nairobi process by William Ruto, who succeeded Uhuru Kenyatta. “There are two processes. There was the one in Nairobi led by Uhuru Kenyatta, which was unfortunately later managed by the new President William Ruto. He has managed it very poorly. The process is virtually dead, except for the fact that the designated facilitator, Uhuru Kenyatta, has remained. He still holds some power, but the process is almost dead. President Ruto has taken sides with Rwanda. I can’t say more”, he stated.
The transition from Kenyatta to Ruto led to a lack of continuity and coherence in the process. Ruto has been accused of not continuing his predecessor’s efforts with the same vigor and having allegiances that compromised the process.
Simultaneously, the Luanda process, led by Angolan President João Lourenço, has also faced significant obstacles. Tshisekedi discussed the challenges encountered: “This process has several times proposed withdrawal schedules, which Rwanda has consistently failed to honor. They always sign but always do the opposite. We hope that with the recent involvement of the United States, which has been the most engaged, we hope to reach a solution”.
The failure of all peace initiatives in North Kivu, DR Congo, can be attributed to the cumulative effect of poor crisis management, partiality, and the non-compliance of agreements by the involved parties. Tshisekedi’s criticisms highlight the need for more coherent and impartial engagement from peace facilitators. It is crucial for the international community to intensify efforts to support peace initiatives that consider local and regional dynamics to end this conflict sustainably.
