A collage of France President Emmanuel Macron with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on phone/FILE
President William Ruto has reached out to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Ruto said the French President expressed his support for regional efforts to restore peace in the DRC.
“I have spoken to President Emmanuel Macron of France on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He has expressed support for the regional efforts to deal with the challenge,” he said.
Ruto further noted that Macron also committed his country's support for the interventions being carried out.
He added that Macron also supported Kenya's participation in other peace initiatives in Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.
Earlier on Monday, Ruto called for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities in the Eastern DRC.
Ruto condemned the escalating insecurity situation in the region, noting that it is of grave concern.
He noted that the humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma.
“I call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, emphasise the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations, and urge both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve this tragic conflict,” he said.
The President, who is the chairperson of the East African Commission (EAC), also called on the parties to the Luanda process and Presidents Félix Tshisekedi (DRC) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda) to heed the call for peace from the people of the region and the international community.
“I call on them to dedicate all efforts towards achieving peace in Eastern DRC and restoring good neighbourliness and essential principles underpinning regional peace and collective responsibility,” he added.
Over the weekend, the rebels of the M23 movement took control of the city of Goma.
The United Nations said key roads surrounding the city were blocked and the city's airport could no longer be used for evacuation and humanitarian efforts.
The M23 group has taken control of vast parts of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since 2021.
