The Political Track of the Nairobi Process
The political track of the Nairobi Process is focused on facilitating dialogue between the DRC government and armed groups. The dialogue is aimed at facilitating ceasefire, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups, and the return of displaced people to their homes.
The political track has a number of mechanisms in place to facilitate dialogue, including:
- Consultations:
The EAC conducts consultations with the DRC government, armed groups, civil society organizations, and the international community on a regular basis. These consultations are aimed at identifying the root causes of the conflict and developing solutions. - Workshops:
The EAC organizes workshops to bring together representatives of the DRC government, armed groups, civil society organizations, and the international community to discuss specific issues related to the conflict. - Meetings:
The EAC facilitates meetings between the DRC government and armed groups to discuss and negotiate agreements.
The Republic of Kenya hosted the first Inter Congolese Dialogue (Nairobi I) in Nairobi Kenya from 22nd to 28th April, 2022. The Dialogue was intended to provide an opportunity to representatives of Local Armed Groups in Eastern DRC to be listened to by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of the quest to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in Eastern DRC. A total of 25 armed groups participated in the Nairobi Dialogue.
Further consultations between the Government of DRC, Armed Groups and Communities were held in the Eastern DRC from 15th to 25th May, 2022 (Nairobi II). The consultations were held in; Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, specifically; Goma, Beni, Bunia and Bukavu. Consultation were held with fifty-six( 56) local armed groups, representatives of forty (40) local communities including an Ituri Women’s Association and religious representatives in Beni.
The Third Inter-Congolese dialogue (Nairobi III), under the East African Community (EAC-Led Nairobi Process), commenced on 28th November, 2022 at the Nairobi Safari Park Hotel, in Nairobi. The consultations included local armed groups and civil society representatives. In total, forty two (42) armed groups’ representatives and seventeen (17) representatives from the civil society groups participated in the consultations.