MADRID Dec. 22 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, has reaffirmed that he will reject any direct negotiations with the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) and has denounced that Rwanda has shown “a clear desire to sabotage peace efforts” regarding the canceled talks between the two in Angola to address the conflict in the east of the country.
Kinshasa recalled that the objective of the summit was to adopt a draft agreement “negotiated and prepared in good faith by the foreign ministers of our three countries” with a view to restoring peace in the region, according to the government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, collected by the Congolese media Radio Okapi.
According to the Congolese Executive, this Kigali proposal has blocked the process and “sabotaged peace efforts”, in addition to defying international commitments and UN Security Council resolutions.
The DRC Government has also urged the international community to “draw the consequences of this failure” and act firmly against Rwanda’s attitude, which, according to it, continues to fuel insecurity in the country and violate commitments made.
Last Monday, the Rwandan Foreign Ministry blamed the cancellation of the trilateral summit on the lack of “consensus” at the ministerial meeting held in Luanda on Saturday, in which the DRC refused to open direct talks with the M23 to reach an agreement. peace agreement.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Téte António, stated that the draft agreement to achieve peace in eastern DRC “is already 99 percent negotiated”, since there have been understandings on key issues such as withdrawal of Rwandan forces and FDLR.
The summit had been presented as an opportunity for both countries to reach a negotiated settlement to their tensions over the conflict between DRC forces and the M23. Lourenço has played a mediator role as a representative of the African Union (AU), and in the past he has received delegations to try to bring them closer together.
In fact, Angola managed to mediate a fragile truce between the parties in August, although intermittent clashes have continued to occur in the area, amid accusations crossed between the Army and the M23 about violations of the pact, which, however, remains technically in force. foot.
The M23 is a rebel group composed mainly of Congolese Tutsis that operates mainly in North Kivyu province. After a conflict between 2012 and 2013, a peace agreement was signed, although the group launched a new offensive at the end of 2022.
The situation has caused a diplomatic crisis between the DRC and Rwanda over their support for the group, raising fears of a large-scale conflict. Kigali, for its part, accuses Kinshasa of repressing Congolese Tutsis with the support of groups such as the FDLR, founded and composed mainly of Hutus responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Add Comment