President William Ruto on Saturday reiterated urgent calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC to allow for a meaningful dialogue to restore stability.
In a speech during the joint summit of EAC-SADC in Tanzania, Ruto particularly urged the M23 rebels to stop its further advancement as he called on DRC’s armed forces to cease retaliatory actions.
“An immediate ceasefire is the only way by which we can create the necessary conditions for constructive dialogue and implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement,” he said.
"The recent escalation of hostilities in Goma and the surrounding areas is a stark reminder of the increasing fragility the situation presents and that only urgent collective action to facilitate a negotiated solution will offer relief."
Ruto further called for a stop to the disregard for the sanctity of life, diplomatic missions, and peacekeepers “in our countries.”
He said as responsible members of the international community, they should ensure the safety of diplomatic assets, civilians, and personnel, as well as peacekeepers within their countries.
“The wanton disregard for the sanctity of life, diplomatic missions, and peacekeepers is not only a brazen demonstration of lawless and unprincipled pursuit of violent harm and destruction, it is a grave affront to the rules-based international order,” he said.
The joint summit, he said, underscores their consensus that the time for action is now.
According to the Head of State, the lives of millions depend on their ability to navigate this complex and challenging situation with wisdom.
He lamented that millions of civilians have been displaced, and many live under the persistent threat of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence against women and children and the recruitment of children to take part in combat.
“We have a historic opportunity to rise to our moral duty of making the protection of civilians our foremost priority and of taking measures to ensure that the necessary resources and support are provided.”