Talks, which DRC beforehand rejected, will search to resolve the spiralling battle within the east of the nation.
The Rwanda-backed M23 insurgent group, in addition to the Congolese authorities, have confirmed that they’ll take part in peace talks in Angola.
A spokesperson for the M23 mentioned on Monday {that a} delegation has been despatched to Angola’s capital, Luanda. The insurgent group has captured key areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) mineral-rich east because the begin of this yr in a serious offensive that has killed many 1000’s.
A delegation representing the DRC is now in Luanda for Tuesday’s talks, a spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi advised The Related Press information company. Tshisekedi had earlier refused direct negotiations with the insurgent group over the battle, which has longstanding roots.
M23 has additionally despatched a delegation to Luanda, spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka mentioned on X.
Angola has been attempting to mediate a ceasefire for a lot of months. Peace talks had been cancelled late final yr after Rwanda insisted on direct dialogue between the DRC and M23, which the Congolese authorities refused.
Nevertheless, Luanda introduced final week that it will host direct peace negotiations.
M23 chief Bertrand Bisimwa declared final week that the rebels had compelled Tshisekedi to the negotiating desk, saying “peace begins with dialogue. The earlier we speak, the earlier peace turns into a actuality.”
Humanitarian disaster
The battle within the japanese DRC escalated early this yr when M23 rebels carried out a lightning offensive and seized the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
M23 is certainly one of about 100 armed teams which have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich japanese DRC, close to the border with Rwanda. The battle has created one of many world’s most important humanitarian crises.
Greater than seven million individuals have been displaced, whereas 7,000 individuals have reportedly died because the begin of the yr.
M23 is supported by about 4,000 troopers from Rwanda, in response to the United Nations, and has beforehand pledged to march to the DRC capital, Kinshasa.
Rwanda says its forces are appearing in self-defence in opposition to the Congolese military and militias hostile to Kigali.
The battle, which has blighted the japanese DRC for many years, is rooted within the spillover into the nation of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, in addition to the battle for management of its huge mineral sources.
The UN Human Rights Council launched a fee in February to analyze atrocities, together with allegations of rape and killing akin to “abstract executions” by each side.
