In a seemingly protracted campaign to find lasting peace in the troubled Eastern part of DRC, former President Joseph Kabila has kicked off consultations with leaders of civil society groups in South Kivu Province.
According to details Kabila has also previously consulted with traditional leaders, religious denominations, the Congolese business federation, women, university professors and the intercommunity Barza.
Samy Jean Kitambula, vice-president and acting president of civil society in South Kivu said, Kabila “is Congolese like any other Congolese, and he wanted to listen to the voice of the voiceless, which is civil society.”
“We were moved to see his determination to ensure that there is lasting peace in our country,” added Kitambula.
“We have decided to support the approach provided that peace returns to our province of South Kivu. We are determined in any approach we may undertake, we want to be actors and not spectators,” he added.
Joseph Kabila arrived in the capital of South Kivu last Monday. The ongoing consultations in South Kivu follow those conducted in Goma, North Kivu.
Bukavu is currently under occupation by AFC/M23 rebels since February.
In May Democratic Republic of Congo’s senate stripped the former President Kabila of his immunity, paving the way for his prosecution.
The Kinshasa government accuses Kabila of supporting the M23 rebels in that have since seized the entire mineral-rich east.
The government also suspended Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), while security forces have raided several of his properties.