Kenyan President William Ruto held an extensive discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the worsening crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, the two leaders condemned the recent capture of Goma and Bukavu by the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda.
Both Ruto and Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. In a social media post, President Ruto emphasized the critical role of regional organizations; the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in defusing tensions and advancing peace efforts.
This marks Rubio’s second high-level conversation with an African leader on the crisis this week. On Wednesday, he spoke with Angola’s Foreign Minister, Téte António, about the Luanda Process, a diplomatic initiative aimed at facilitating dialogue between Rwanda and the DRC.
