PRESIDENT William Samoei Ruto of Kenya has reiterated that the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can only be resolved through dialogue and not military action.
Speaking at the joint summit of the East African Community (EAC ) and Southern African Development Community ( SADC ) in Tanzania, Ruto emphasized the need for a comprehensive dialogue that addresses the underlying causes of the crisis while securing the DRC’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“For this reason, it is equally clear that such a conflict cannot be resolved through military means”, he said.
He further stressed that: “We must resist the temptation of thinking that we can somehow shoot or bombard our way into a solution in the face of the complexity involved.”
Ruto says calls for dialogue should, however, not be construed as a sign of weakness
The dialogue, he said, must bring together multiple stakeholders including regional states and international bodies in order to dialogue and collaborate to explore, develop, and implement a lasting solution.
Others are political organisations, civil society groups, and the Congolese government.
He acknowledged the complexity of the conflict, describing it as protracted and involving multiple actors with varying interests.
The President pointed to the “clandestine international dimension” influencing the situation, warning that the destructive effects of these external forces must no longer be ignored.
Credit: Star Kenya
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