Ruto Holds Second Call With US Secretary Marco Rubio Over Congo Conflict

President William Ruto had another phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the ongoing crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Their discussion focused on the recent takeover of Goma and Bukavu by the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda.

The call, which took place on Friday, February 21, highlighted the worsening security situation in the region.

Both leaders agreed that a military approach would not be a viable solution to the escalating conflict. Instead, they strongly condemned the rebel occupation of key cities and jointly called for an immediate ceasefire.

According to a statement from the US Department of State, Secretary Rubio and President Ruto reaffirmed their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Ruto and Rubio’s Previous Call on Congo and Haiti

This was the second time President Ruto and Secretary Rubio have discussed the Congo conflict over the phone. Their first call took place on February 6, during which Rubio expressed gratitude for Kenya’s leadership in various peacekeeping efforts.

Rubio specifically thanked Ruto for Kenya’s commitment to the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, which continues to operate effectively. He also appreciated Kenya’s active role in promoting peace in the DRC.

Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have advanced further, capturing strategic locations such as Kavumu Airport.

Calls for Ceasefire Align With African Leaders’ Stance

The calls for a ceasefire from Ruto and Rubio align with similar appeals made by African leaders during a summit held in Dar es Salaam on February 9.

The summit brought together heads of state from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

In their final communique, regional leaders demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and the reopening of key supply routes in the DRC. They also instructed EAC-SADC military chiefs to convene within five days to develop technical strategies for enforcing a ceasefire.

As per the directive, the EAC-SADC Chiefs of Defense Forces met in Nairobi on Friday, February 21, where they finalized their report containing recommendations to be submitted to the EAC Council of Ministers for further action.

Key Recommendations From Military Leaders

The military leaders outlined several urgent measures, including:

• An immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
• Opening of key supply routes to restore humanitarian assistance.
• A detailed security plan for Goma and nearby areas.
• The reopening of Goma Airport for civilian and military use.
• Other strategic interventions to stabilize the region.

With growing international pressure and regional efforts to broker peace, all eyes are now on how stakeholders will implement these recommendations to restore stability in the DRC.

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