Rwanda-supported M23 rebels have withdrawn from planned peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just a day before direct negotiations were due to start in Angola. The move followed the European Union’s imposition of sanctions on M23 and Rwandan leaders on Monday.
The Congo River Alliance, of which M23 is a part, blamed the EU for acting deliberately to “hinder the highly anticipated talks” with sanctions. The pulling out creates doubts over what would have been the first direct negotiations between the two parties in the conflict, which is the worst to hit the eastern Congo in decades.
M23 has always insisted on direct talks with Kinshasa, but DRC President Félix Tshisekedi had once declined, insisting that the movement was only a proxy for Rwanda. But after recent losses on the battlefield and with pressure from Angola, Tshisekedi on Sunday changed his mind and agreed to send a delegation to Luanda.
Despite M23’s withdrawal, the Congolese government remains committed to the talks. “We confirm our participation at the invitation of the mediators,” said Tina Salama, spokesperson for Tshisekedi.
The fighting, steeped in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and competition for the mineral riches of eastern Congo, has grown stronger since January. Two of the largest cities in the region were taken by M23 rebels, leading to thousands of fatalities and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The United Nations and other world powers have also accused Rwanda of equipping and sending troops to fight alongside the Tutsi-dominated M23 rebels. Rwanda, however, has refuted these claims that its troops are fighting in self-defense against Congolese forces and aggressive militias.
With peace negotiations currently at risk, the fate of diplomatic solutions to bring an end to the violent conflict hangs in the balance.
