DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has criticized Kenyan President William Ruto for mishandling the Nairobi Process, which was intended to facilitate dialogue with armed groups in eastern DRC. Tshisekedi accused Ruto of aligning with Rwanda, which he believes has stalled the initiative.
The Nairobi Process, originally launched by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, aimed to support disarmament and demobilization. Despite several meeting cycles, progress has stalled since the third round in December 2023. Tshisekedi’s criticism highlights the growing tensions between the DRC and Kenya. Kinshasa has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the East African Community (EAC) force’s handling of the M23 rebellion, accusing it of inadequate action.
The situation worsened when Nairobi announced the formation of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a political-military group associated with the M23. Kenya’s refusal to arrest AFC leader Corneille Nangaa led the DRC to recall its ambassadors to Kenya and the EAC for consultations.