Congo-Kinshasa: Inter-Congolese Talks Marred By Complaints About Allowances

6 December 2022

Peace talks in Nairobi between the DR Congo government and multiple armed groups could not be concluded on time on Monday, December 5, after some delegates left the negotiation area citing unpaid allowances.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the facilitator of the Nairobi process, was expected to announce the outcome of the weeklong inter-Congolese dialogue on Monday evening.

But the final session was delayed by representatives of armed groups, who left the garden at Safari Park hotel where the talks had been taking place.

The closing of the Nairobi talks, meant to end the insecurity in eastern DR Congo, was put off until Tuesday morning.

Some of them were reportedly complaining that they had not received their per diem. According to media reports, the delegates are supposed to get a $50 daily allowance.

An annoyed Kenyatta later addressed the delegates promising to take the issue with organisers of the talks.

"I would like to postpone this meeting and ask that we meet here tomorrow," Kenyatta said.

"I want to say to the friends in charge of organising this meeting: I know that we have sufficient funds, because I was one of those who sought these funds. This money is not theirs. It is money that must be used to bring peace to the Congo."

He said he would make sure that the money is available by the time the talks resume on Tuesday, and if they are not, he would report the issue to leaders.

The talks began on Monday last week and were initially expected to conclude on Saturday, December 3.

On Friday, the delegation of Banyamulenge, who have a self-defence armed group called Twirwaneho, pulled out of the talks citing fresh attacks on their community in South Kivu by some of the militias represented in Nairobi.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.