President William Ruto has revealed that he will be attending a European summit scheduled for March 23, in Brussels, Belgium.
Ruto said he will use the meeting to petition the European Union to support the Kenyan troops currently deployed to DR Congo to help in restoration of peace and security in the war torn country.
The president spoke who during a joint press conference with the visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Statehouse on Tuesday, said Kenya plays a pivotal role as a stabilising factor in East and Central Africa region.
“We have agreed that Italy through the EU will be supporting our efforts in Somalia where it is a very big player in supporting our troops in Somalia,” Ruto said.
“We have also agreed that we will be having a conversation later this month when I visit Brussels on what the EU can do to support our troops and the interventions we are making in DRC Congo.” he added
Ruto further revealed that the participation of Italy and the EU in supporting the efforts towards stabilising the region formed part of his discussions with President Mattarella who is in the country for a four-day visit.
The seven countries making the East African Community (EAC), which Congo joined in April last year, agreed to set up a joint force to thrash militia groups in Eastern Congo. The Kenyan troops joined a contingent from Burundi.
Billions of dollars have been spent on one of the United Nation’s largest peacekeeping missions but the more than 120 militia groups continue to terrorize large swathes of east Congo, including the M23 rebels, which Congo is accusing Rwanda of supporting.
“We all have a stake in a stable Democratic Republic of Congo and its security,” Ruto said during the send-off ceremony for the KDF troops in Nairobi.
