The M23 rebels are sending a five-member delegation to Luanda, Angola, for peace talks with the DRC government on March 18, following a commitment made by Angolan President João Lourenço. This marks the first direct dialogue since the conflict began in November 2021 and aims to address issues like ethnic cleansing and governance in the DRC.
The M23 rebel group has announced that it will send a delegation of five members to Luanda, Angola, for direct peace negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government, set to take place on March 18. M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, indicated that representatives would depart for Luanda on March 17.
Angolan President, João Lourenço, confirmed these negotiations on March 11 following discussions with DRC President, Félix Tshisekedi. Bertrand Bisimwa, the political leader of M23, received a formal invitation from Lourenço on March 13. Reports suggest that Deputy Prime Minister Jean Pierre Bemba will head the DRC delegation during these talks.
This meeting marks the first direct engagement between M23 and the DRC government since the conflict erupted in November 2021, highlighting a notable shift, as President Tshisekedi had previously been reluctant to negotiate with M23, which is affiliated with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC). Kanyuka expressed gratitude towards President Lourenço for his ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully.
M23 has accused the Congolese government of backing militia groups that perpetrate ethnic cleansing against Congolese Tutsi civilians, including the FDLR, which collaborates with the Congolese army. With the rebels having recently captured significant cities in eastern DRC, there have been numerous calls for dialogue.
M23’s resurgence in 2021 has resulted in fractious fighting and territorial gains, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu in early 2023. Since 2022, President Lourenço has mediated the Luanda Peace Process, which aimed to address tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, but a previous proposal to facilitate negotiations fell through in December 2022 when the DRC government refrained from signing an agreement.
The forthcoming peace talks in Luanda signify a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between M23 rebels and the DRC government. With direct negotiations finally taking place, there exists a potential pathway toward resolving decades of tensions marked by violence against Congolese Tutsi communities. President João Lourenço’s role as a mediator underscores the importance of international involvement in fostering peace. However, the complexities surrounding past negotiations remain a challenging backdrop to these upcoming discussions.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
