East African leaders on Thursday issued a warning to armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging them to choose dialogue or be considered enemies of all.
Gathering in Nairobi, Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Felix Tshisekedi of DRC, Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta agreed to have armed groups hold dialogue with the government of DRC, or be annihilated militarily.
This decision was issued on Thursday in a joint communique after the leaders met under what is known as the Heads of State Conclave on the DRC, the first concerted effort by members of the East African Community to have armed groups in eastern DRC end the violence.
The leaders said they would proceed to “immediately” accelerate the formation of a regional force “to help contain and, where necessary, fight the negative forces” in the DRC, even as they asked rebel groups to lay down arms and participate “unconditionally” in political dialogue.
“Towards this end, the meeting directed that planning for such a force commence with immediate effect with the full consultation of relevant authorities in the region,” said a joint communique issued after their meeting in Nairobi on Thursday.
But while the leaders read a riot act to the rebel groups, they first offered an olive branch, saying that those who agree to negotiate will be given a platform to be heard.
