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” KANYUKA, AFC, AFRICA, ALLIANCE FLEUVE CONGO, ANGOLA, BERTRAND BISIMWA, BUKAVU, CIVIL WAR, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, CONGO (KINSHASA), DR CONGO, DRC, FDLR, FELIX TSHISEKEDI, GEN MUGANGA, GOMA, HARARE, HUMANITARIAN, JEAN PIERRE BEMBA, JOAO LOURENCO, JOÃO LOURENÇO, KANYUKA, KINSHASA, KIVU, LAWRENCE KANYUKA, LUANDA, M23, MAKENGA, MUGANGA, NORTH AMERICA, NORTH KIVU, REGIONAL COOPERATION, REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA, RWANDA, SAD, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, SOUTH KIVU, TSHISEKEDI, UNITED STATES, WEST AFRICA, ZIMBABWE
Omar El-Sharif
M23 Rebels Engage in Peace Talks with DRC Government in Angola
M23 rebels confirm participation in peace talks in Luanda, Angola, scheduled for March 18, following an invitation from President João Lourenço. This marks the first direct negotiations with the DRC government since conflict escalated in November 2021. The talks are crucial given the allegations against the Congolese government regarding support for militias and the ongoing violence affecting Tutsi communities.
The M23 rebels, affiliated with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), have announced their decision to dispatch a five-member delegation to Luanda, Angola, for negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government. Spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka confirmed the representatives would leave for Luanda on Monday, ahead of the scheduled talks taking place on March 18. These discussions mark a significant moment as they represent the first direct engagement between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government since the onset of the conflict in November 2021.
Angolan President João Lourenço initiated the direct peace talks on March 11 during discussions with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi. Following this, M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa received an invitation from Lourenço on March 13. Congolese Deputy Prime Minister Jean Pierre Bemba is set to lead the DRC delegation to Luanda, positioning the negotiations as a critical step towards resolving ongoing hostilities.
The engagement comes after accusations from M23 that the Congolese government has been backing militias involved in ethnic cleansing against Congolese Tutsi communities. M23’s operations have intensified since they captured significant cities like Goma and Bukavu in early 2023. The ongoing conflict has drawn attention to the repeated calls for dialogue from various national and international entities, especially given the historical context of violence against Tutsi populations linked to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
President Lourenço’s role as a mediator has been prominent since mid-2022, particularly within the Luanda Peace Process aimed at stabilizing the region. However, previous attempts to establish direct negotiations fizzled in December 2022 when the DRC government declined to endorse an agreement that would have facilitated these talks. This underscores the complexities surrounding negotiations and the ongoing challenges to achieving lasting peace in the DRC.
The M23 rebels’ decision to engage in peace talks in Luanda signifies an important progression towards addressing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Following years of tension and an escalation of hostilities, including significant territorial advances by M23, these negotiations represent a crucial opportunity for dialogue. The participation of regional leaders like President Lourenço highlights the international community’s involvement in seeking a resolution and underscores the need for a collaborative approach to ending violence and promoting peace in the DRC.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
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