Angola has announced direct peace talks with M23 rebels for March 18, aiming to mediate the crisis between the DRC and the group. DRC has acknowledged the proposal but not confirmed participation. The situation, driven by historical and resource-based conflicts, has escalated, causing substantial human suffering and raising fears of broader regional conflict.
On March 18, direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group will commence in Angola’s capital, as confirmed by Angola’s presidency. While DRC acknowledged receiving this proposal, it has yet to confirm its participation. Angola, aiming for a lasting ceasefire, has been mediating ongoing tensions, particularly between Congo and Rwanda, which has been accused of supporting M23. Rwanda refutes these claims.
Although DRC has historically declined direct negotiations with M23, it noted Angola’s initiative. Tina Salama, spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi, stated that they received Angola’s invitation but did not confirm participation. M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa expressed confidence in compelling Tshisekedi to negotiate, describing it as the only reasonable resolution to the intensifying crisis since January.
An extraordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit will also address the DRC crisis this Thursday, focusing on the role of regional armed forces stationed in eastern Congo. M23 has taken control of key provincial capitals, Goma and Bukavu, escalating the long-standing conflict and threatening smaller villages in the region.
The conflict is deeply rooted in historical tensions from Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the contention over Congo’s mineral wealth. Eastern Congo holds significant reserves of minerals essential for technological and green energy advancements. Since January, the DRC government reports more than 7,000 fatalities and around 600,000 displaced individuals, with concern from the UN’s humanitarian affairs office and Human Rights Watch over the deteriorating human rights situation.
Human Rights Watch has highlighted cases of repression against civil society and media in M23-controlled areas, including arrests and assassinations of activists. This situation extends the use of intimidation tactics to North and South Kivu provinces, allegedly with Rwandan assistance. Troops from Congo’s neighbors, including Burundi and Uganda, are present in eastern DRC, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict reminiscent of the devastating Congo wars of the late 20th century.
Angola’s mediation efforts signal a potential turning point in relations between the DRC and M23 rebels, aiming for direct peace talks on March 18. As tensions escalate and regional implications arise, the situation remains critical and complex, with historical grievances influencing current dynamics. Key concerns include significant human rights violations and the potential for wider regional conflict, necessitating international attention and intervention.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
