Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi alongside Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran (Turkiye),during a Panel Discussion on the HornPrime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for the reinforcement of African-led processes through institutions established by African States in finding solutions for peace and stability.
Speaking in Antalya, Turkiye at the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Mudavadi said Africa needs sustainable conflict resolution mechanisms in advancing peace initiatives that will bring normalcy in conflict prone nations.
He emphasised that Kenya will continue to be actively involved in the continental peace processes as part of its pivotal role as a neutral arbiter.
“Africans want to engage meaningfully amongst themselves and also with the rest of the world. We must be very careful that we do not create a new scramble for Africa, that can generate more problems like in the past. It is essential that the institutions created by the African nations are respected,” Mudavadi said.
“Kenya continues to play a key facilitative role for South Sudan, we are ready to support Sudan, we are engaged in the Eastern DRC process, we have been at the center of conversations for Somalia, and so many other areas that have had challenges, Nairobi remains a base for positive dialogue.”
The Prime CS said Kenya’s contribution to Africa’s peace processes is anchored on dialogue and mutual understanding of the challenges that need to be resolved.
He insisted that Kenya remains to be a respecter of the African institutions including the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, IGAD calling on African States to remain steadfast and encourage processes that will result in win-win solutions.
“Africa should therefore mainstream its efforts through recognised institutions that have structures for us to have a more coordinated approach to conflict resolution,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi participated in a panel discussion on the “Horn of Africa: Risks and Opportunities” where he reiterated that Kenya stands for a unified Sudan and its appeal is to encourage dialogue for all parties to be brought on the negotiations table in resolving the crisis.
He said Kenya will continue to support the humanitarian initiatives in Sudan noting Nairobi’s significance in the supply of essentials that are helping the people of Sudan cannot be underestimated.
“We are encouraging a platform where the civilian component of Sudan and the civil society of Sudan, can also have space to sit on the table and be involved in the talks to bring peace in their own country.”
The Prime CS said Kenya is helping to facilitate dialogue in Sudan in a similar manner other countries are engaging the warring factions in the Sudan conflict.
He said the ultimate goal is to enable the Sudanese people form their government through their own mechanisms and institutional order.
“There were talks in Paris a year ago about Sudan, you cannot say that France was dismembering Sudan, as we speak there is a meeting being planned in the UK on Sudan, you cannot say that is to dismember Sudan through London talks, we stand for one Sudan, we want the people to dialogue and Kenya is encouraging a process that will result into a win-win solution because largely it has been seen that the military solution will not work," Mudavadi said.
On the Eastern DRC crisis, Mudavadi who is also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary lauded the merging of the Luanda and Nairobi processes saying this will help have a targeted approach towards resolving the conflict.
He explained that the Luanda process under President João Lourenço focused on inter-state mediation between Rwanda and DRC Congo, while the Nairobi process under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta was an intra-DRC conversation to bring all factions within the Democratic Republic of Congo including the M23 and other groups to the dialogue table.
