Angola will host direct peace talks between the DRC and M23 rebels starting on 18 March. The Congolese government has acknowledged this initiative but has not confirmed participation. The conflict has worsened significantly since January, leading to thousands of deaths and displacement. Regional leaders will discuss the crisis and its implications during an extraordinary SADC summit.
Angola has indicated that direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group will commence in the capital on 18 March. This announcement was made by the presidency of Angola on Wednesday, following a prior statement that Angola would facilitate these discussions as part of its mediation efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire and reduce tensions with Rwanda, which ostensibly supports M23. Rwanda has denied these accusations.
The Congolese government has historically resisted direct negotiations with M23; however, it acknowledged Angola’s initiative on Tuesday. Tina Salama, spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi, confirmed receipt of Angola’s invitation to participate in the talks without committing to participation.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa expressed confidence on social media about compelling President Tshisekedi to engage in negotiations, stating it is “the only civilised option to resolve the current crisis” which has escalated dramatically since January. Meanwhile, an extraordinary summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state will discuss the DRC crisis this Thursday via videoconference, chaired by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Since January, M23 has seized control of Goma and Bukavu, two provincial capitals in eastern DRC, along with making advances into smaller towns. The conflict has historical ties to the 1994 Rwandan genocide and is exacerbated by competition for access to the DRC’s mineral wealth, which includes valuable resources essential for modern technology and green energy.
The DRC government has reported that at least 7,000 individuals have died in the ongoing conflict since January, with the UN estimating over 600,000 people displaced since November. Human Rights Watch expressed concerns regarding diminishing civic freedoms in M23-occupied areas, noting pressure on activists and journalists, sometimes leading to assassinations, which is proliferating in North and South Kivu regions. Furthermore, the presence of military forces from neighboring countries including Burundi, Uganda, and South Africa in eastern DRC amplifies fears of a potential regional conflict akin to the devastating Congo wars of the 1990s and early 2000s.
In summary, direct peace talks between Angola, the DRC, and the M23 rebels aim to facilitate a resolution to ongoing tensions and conflict. The stakes are high as the humanitarian crisis deepens, backed by significant geopolitical implications. The international community watches closely as this situation unfolds, with hopes for a peaceful resolution amidst a backdrop of historical strife and resource contention.
Original Source: www.inkl.com
