African Union holds Kigali talks as fighting continues in eastern DRC

Three former African presidents discussed security commitments, refugee protection and regional cooperation.Kigali, Rwanda – The African Union (AU) has held consultations in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of efforts to advance the peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting continues despite diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict.The consultations, held on October 6, focused on implementing the Washington Peace Agreement, security arrangements, the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of fighters, refugee protection and regional economic cooperation, the AU said in a statement.The delegation comprised former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Zewde is the deputy chairperson of the AU Panel of Facilitators for the eastern DRC peace process.From Goma to KigaliThe Kigali consultations followed meetings in Goma, eastern DRC, on October 5. According to the AU, the delegation met representatives of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian A...