The M23 rebels are sending a five-member delegation to Angola for peace talks with the DRC government on March 18. This marks the first direct engagement since the conflict began in 2021. Angolan President João Lourenço has played a crucial mediating role, and both sides are under pressure to reach a resolution amid accusations of ethnic cleansing and governance issues in the DRC.
The AFC/M23 rebels have announced their decision to send a five-member delegation to Luanda, Angola, for direct negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government on March 18. According to spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the representatives will depart for Luanda the day prior.
On March 11, Angolan President João Lourenço declared the upcoming direct peace talks between the rebels and the Kinshasa government following discussions with DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi. M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa received an official invitation from President Lourenço on March 13. Reports indicate that Congolese Deputy Prime Minister Jean Pierre Bemba will head the government delegation.
These negotiations represent the first direct discussions between the M23 rebels and the DRC government since the onset of the conflict in November 2021. The meetings are particularly significant, given President Tshisekedi’s previous reluctance to engage directly with the M23, which is affiliated with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC).
Kanyuka expressed gratitude towards President Lourenço for his dedication to achieving a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the DRC. The M23 has voiced accusations against the Congolese government, claiming it supports various militias engaged in ethnic cleansing against the Congolese Tutsi population, including the FDLR, which operates alongside the Congolese army.
Various regional and international stakeholders have advocated for dialogue following the rebels’ capture of key cities in eastern DRC earlier this year. The M23 fights to protect persecuted Tutsi communities and combat systemic corruption and governance issues that have historically plagued the DRC. The group resumed hostilities in 2021 after nearly ten years of dormancy.
In conclusion, the upcoming peace talks in Angola mark a crucial opportunity for the M23 rebels and the DRC government to address longstanding issues stemming from the conflict that began in 2021. With external mediation from Angola, these negotiations aim to foster a dialogue aimed at resolving the humanitarian crisis and restoring peace in the region. The involvement of key leaders demonstrates the commitment to finding a resolution to an enduring conflict.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
