The itinerary of former President Uhuru Kenyatta appears busy. If he is not attending a high-level regional heads of state meeting to appeal for peace, he is part of an accord being signed to restore calm in a restive country on the continent.
Kenyatta has quickly established an image as an African peacemaker, gaining recognition in the East Africa region as a dependable ally of troubled leaders.
He has been consistent in advocating for peace in the troubled eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
CONGO PEACE DEAL
It is through these efforts that Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi recently praised him during the signing of a peace accord in Washington aimed at ending decades of hostility between DRC and Rwanda.
“I want to specially thank former president Uhuru Kenyatta for his efforts to restore peace in Congo, his efforts are part of the reasons we are here today,” said Tshisekedi.
The agreement, brokered with support from the United States, is hailed as the strongest commitment yet to restoring calm in eastern DRC, a region long plagued by conflict and displacement.
The deal commits both Kigali and Kinshasa to a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of foreign forces from contested areas, and the disarmament of non-state armed groups that have fuelled instability for nearly 30 years. Central to the accord is a structured plan allowing millions of refugees and internally displaced persons to return home, subject to the establishment of security guarantees on both sides of the border.
CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Kenyatta’s presence at the ceremony underscored Kenya’s longstanding role in regional mediation, having previously hosted peace talks under the Nairobi Process. In his public remarks, he praised the agreement as a turning point for the Great Lakes region and called for unwavering focus on implementation so that “communities that have lived through repeated cycle of violence can finally see lasting peace.”
The Washington signing followed months of diplomatic engagement, including a preliminary framework reached earlier in 2025 and intensified negotiations over troop movements and the dismantling of armed groups. The accord also outlines mechanisms for economic cooperation, ranging from cross-border infrastructure to mineral resource management, in a bid to stabilise relations and encourage joint development.
Kenyatta is in Lomé, Togo, to join a high-level African delegation aimed at advancing the peace process in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
FORMER HEADS OF STATE
In a statement shared by his office, Kenyatta travelled alongside other co-facilitators, all of whom are former heads of state.
“His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has arrived in Lomé, Togo, alongside fellow co-facilitators former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), and Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana),” part of the statement issued by the Office of the 4th president reads.
The delegation was received by Togo’s Foreign Minister ahead of planned discussions to mediate ongoing conflicts in eastern DRC, where insecurity has displaced communities and disrupted regional stability.
“Kenyatta was received by Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, ahead of a working session on the AU-led mediation for the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace process,” the statement reads.
Also present at the opening engagements was the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, reflecting the continental body’s commitment to resolving the crisis.
“Also present is the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,” the statement reads.
ONGOING EFFORT
The meeting signals an ongoing effort by African leaders to create a roadmap for sustainable peace, strengthen dialogue among local stakeholders, and support the DRC government in addressing insecurity in its eastern provinces.
President Kenyatta and the delegation aim to bolster stability, facilitate humanitarian access, and promote lasting solutions for communities affected by decades of unrest in eastern DRC.
The meeting is expected to review progress made so far and explore pathways for de-escalation amid persistent insecurity in eastern Congo, which has been marked by armed group activity and regional tensions.
Kenyatta is serving as one of the co-facilitators in the African Union-led mediation process for the eastern DRC, which brings together regional and continental actors seeking a political pathway to end the conflict.
POLITICAL SETTLEMENT
Also on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, his office confirmed his attendance at the panel of facilitators on Eastern DRC peace progress that was held in Ethiopia.
The meeting sought to align efforts between the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This trilateral cooperation is seen as essential for maintaining momentum towards a sustainable political settlement.
The AUC-EAC-SADC panel aims to provide credible, inclusive, and regionally owned solutions to the conflict in eastern DRC.
