Kenyan President William Ruto and Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenco urged the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to integrate into a military garrison during a press conference in Nairobi.
The M23 rebels were a military group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that emerged in 2012.
The group comprised former members of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a Tutsi rebel movement.
The M23 rebels were primarily based in the eastern region of the DRC and were known for their involvement in several conflicts with the Congolese government forces
Lourenco emphasized the need for M23’s cantonment to foster peace in the DRC’s strife-torn eastern region.
The rebels, backed by Rwanda, had displaced over a million people after overpowering the Congolese army in late 2021.
Ruto and Lourenco also proposed revitalizing direct flights between Nairobi and Luanda to bolster bilateral trade.
They announced a visa-free regime to enhance people’s movement and promote diverse collaborations.
Kenya pledged support for Angola’s African Union Peace and Security Council membership bid, with 11 legal agreements signed during the visit.