The Democratic Republic of the Congo will commence direct peace talks with M23 rebels on March 18 in Luanda, Angola, following an invitation from Angola, serving as mediator. President Tshisekedi’s government has faced intensified conflict since M23’s territorial advances in January, with significant casualties and mass displacement reported. M23’s leadership asserts that negotiations represent the most civilized means to address the prolonged crisis.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will engage in direct peace negotiations with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that are set to commence on March 18 in Luanda, Angola. This announcement was made by Angola, the mediator, as DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi confirmed receiving the invitation to participate in the discussions. While the government’s representative confirmed the invitation, they did not confirm participation in the talks.
Angola has served as a mediator previously in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, which has intensified since late January when M23 gained control of Goma, a pivotal city in the region. The rebels further expanded their territorial hold in February by seizing Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Congo.
The conflict origins trace back to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, with ongoing disputes regarding the control of DRC’s rich mineral wealth. Rwanda has denied any support for the M23 in this conflict. President Tshisekedi had discussions in Angola about the prospects of peace talks; his spokesperson indicated that while an invitation was extended, they refrained from detailing their decision regarding participation.
M23 leader, Bertrand Bisimwa, expressed via social media that the negotiations were necessitated by Tshisekedi’s decision to engage in talks, which he deemed “the only civilized option to resolve the current crisis that has lasted for decades.” The DRC army has reported over 7,000 casualties from the ongoing conflict since January, with the refugee agency stating that nearly 80,000 individuals have fled the nation since the conflict reignited, especially to neighboring Burundi.
Currently, M23 is amongst approximately 100 armed groups fighting for control over DRC’s rich resources, including minerals such as coltan, cobalt, copper, and lithium. The presence of foreign troops from countries such as South Africa, Burundi, and Uganda in eastern Congo raises apprehensions of a potential regional conflict reminiscent of the devastating Congo wars of the 1990s and early 2000s, which resulted in millions of fatalities.
The announcement of direct peace talks between the DRC and M23 rebels serves as a significant development amid an ongoing conflict that has caused thousands of deaths and mass displacement. With Angola acting as a mediator, the hope lies in initiating discussions that could bring about a resolution to the decades-long crisis characterized by violence and resource disputes. Increased regional military presence further necessitates peaceful dialogue to prevent the escalation of conflict.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
