Peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and rebel groups that were scheduled to begin on Monday in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, have been postponed.

Organisers of the third Inter-Congolese peace dialogue say they are trying to build a conducive environment for the talks – which bring together the government and armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo.

Meanwhile Kenya’s President William Ruto paid a visit to DR Congo for bilateral talks with President Félix Tshisekedi. Kenya is playing a crucial role as a member of the East African Community in support of the Nairobi Peace Process.

On Monday, clashes resumed in Rutshuru territory, towards Masisi, North Kivu Province in the east of the country. Hundreds more people have been displaced.

Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the lead negotiator, says he had a call with Rwanda’s Paul Kagame who agreed to talk to M23 about them laying down their weapons.

In the note, Nairobi underlines that Kenya plays a “crucial role” in the Nairobi peace talks, for which the participation of members of the March 23 Movement (M23) is in doubt, whose advance towards Goma, the provincial capital of the North Kivu is putting the opening of the awaited confrontation in crisis.

– Xinhua