Following his visit to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundian President and current chair of the African Union, Évariste Ndayishimiye, reiterated his country’s commitment to peace and stability in eastern DRC. The region has been plagued by violence from local and foreign armed groups, as well as the security crisis involving the AFC/M23 rebellion, which is backed by Rwanda.
During a joint press conference with his Congolese counterpart on Tuesday, 23 June, at the African Union City, the Burundian head of state stated that the security situation in eastern DRC was one of the main topics discussed during their talks over the course of this 48-hour state visit.
“A very important point of our discussions focused on peace and security in eastern DRC. We conducted a thorough assessment of the security situation in this part of the country, and I expressed my support for regional and international diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace and ensuring stability in the Great Lakes region,” said Évariste Ndayishimiye.
The Burundian president stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to end the ongoing violence in the region.
“Burundi remains convinced that a lasting resolution to the crises affecting eastern DRC necessarily requires a comprehensive and integrated approach aimed at ending the recurring cycles of violence and promoting the socio-economic development of the affected populations,” he continued.
Addressing the security threats facing the region, Ndayishimiye called for stronger cooperation among Great Lakes countries.
“Faced with the threats posed by foreign terrorist groups and negative forces operating in eastern DRC, Burundi believes it is necessary to continue and strengthen the pooling of efforts among the states of the region,” he stated.
The Burundian president also expressed his country’s support for the various diplomatic mechanisms underway to restore peace in the DRC. Évariste Ndayishimiye reaffirmed his personal involvement in African mediation initiatives.
“Burundi supports all initiatives aimed at restoring lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, notably the Washington and Doha processes, as well as the efforts of the African Union through the action of the AU mediator for peace in the DRC, supported by the panel of former African heads of state. I reaffirmed my personal commitment to African mediation, particularly through a follow-up mechanism for the ongoing processes,” he confided.
This meeting between the two heads of state, Félix Tshisekedi and Évariste Ndayishimiye, comes amid diplomatic efforts, particularly the Washington agreements and the Doha process, aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire and restarting dialogue among the parties to the conflict that has shaken eastern DRC for several years. However, these initiatives have not yet produced concrete results on the ground, where hostilities continue between the rebellion and government forces.
Faced with this situation, voices continue to be raised at the national, regional, and international levels, calling on the various parties to respect the commitments made under the peace initiatives. However, these appeals have so far had no noticeable effect. The goal of bridging the persistent gap between realities on the ground and diplomatic progress recorded on paper remains difficult to achieve. Each side continues to interpret the provisions of the agreements according to its own reading, making their implementation ever more uncertain.
