M23 Rebels Withdraw from Peace Talks After EU Sanctions

Summary:

The M23 rebels had stated they would send a delegation to Luanda, Angola, for negotiations scheduled for Tuesday.

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GOMA: The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels announced on Monday that they had withdrawn from planned peace talks aimed at resolving the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The decision came after the European Union imposed sanctions on the group’s leader and senior Rwandan military officials.

Earlier that day, the rebels had stated they would send a delegation to Luanda, Angola, for negotiations scheduled for Tuesday.

This followed Congo’s confirmation of its participation, marking a shift from its long-standing refusal to engage in talks with the group.

The M23 has launched a major offensive in eastern Congo, seizing territory it had never previously controlled, including the region’s two largest cities and several smaller localities.

However, the group reversed its decision to participate in peace talks after the EU sanctioned its political leader, Bertrand Bisimwa, along with Rwandan army commanders. Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the Tutsi-led rebel group.

“Successive sanctions imposed on our members, including those enacted on the eve of the Luanda discussions, severely undermine direct dialogue and make any progress impossible,” M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement.

Despite the M23’s withdrawal, Congo remains committed to the talks. Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama confirmed via WhatsApp that the Congolese delegation would still be heading to Luanda as planned.

“We confirm our participation,” she said. “The delegation should normally be leaving this evening.”

Angola has been leading mediation efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire and ease tensions between Congo and neighboring Rwanda.