WASHINGTON, Kenya, Nov, 4 – The United States of America (USA) Secretary of State Antony Blinken Thursday held a phone conversation with president William Ruto where he congratulated Kenya for her role in mediating and negotiating the ceasing of hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray regional Government.
The parties in the conflict agreed to cease hostilities following two years of a brutal war that left thousands dead and millions displaced amid a biting famine.
The war broke out in November 2020.
President Ruto saluted the people of Ethiopia, for whom he wished “an era of cohesion, integration, and reconciliation.
Nairobi said the commitment demonstrated by the two parties to the African Union-led peace process aligns with our collective desire for peace and security within our region.
As a member of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Kenya said it joins the world in “complimenting our Ethiopian brothers and sisters for the step taken to cease hostilities, open up humanitarian corridors, and restore services,”
“This mutual agreement will create the necessary environment to nurture durable peace and political stability in Ethiopia,” read the statement from State House.
“I commend the AU Panelists, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa; H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya; H.E Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuke former South African deputy President, for their facilitation and tireless efforts, wisdom and patience, and most of all, for their unity of purpose that brought this day of peace that heralds a bright future for the people of Ethiopia,” President William Ruto added.
Blinken also hailed Kenya’s efforts to retire peace in Eastern DR Congo.
Kenya on Wednesday flagged off the Kenyan contingent to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the auspices of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).
President William Ruto has said Kenya will always answer the call to promote peace and security in East Africa.
“This deployment is significant and urgent as it responds to the collective aspirations of a sustainable peace in our region. We owe our brotherly duty to DRC until the job is done,” he said.
The President added that Kenya’s participation in EACRF continues a proud legacy of peacekeeping by the Kenya Defence Forces. He asked the troops to discharge their mandate professionally.
Kenya is now expected to spearhead command of the force that will include troops from Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi.
Kenya is now expected to set up its command base in Goma where it will be domiciled for the next six months pending further directives.
Ruto further said that the region had a responsibility to work together in order to end the conflict and violence that has denied the region the space to prosper.
Kenya had in recent months deployed scores of KDF troops to Congo as part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO).
The latest contingent of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) comprising over 200 KDF personnel was flagged off at Embakasi Garrison back in August,23,2022 after undertaking a five-month rigorous pre-deployment training that was geared towards making them mission ready ahead of the deployment.
The QRF team shall continue with the implementation of the MONUSCO mandate to neutralize armed belligerents in Eastern DRC.
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