Congo defies global calls for M23 talks, demands dialogue with Rwanda

Despite increasing international pressure, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains resolute in its refusal to engage in direct talks with the M23 rebel group, which has gained significant ground in the country’s east in recent months.

M23, the most dominant among numerous armed groups operating in the region is vying for control over eastern Congo, an area rich in trillions of dollars’ worth of untapped mineral resources essential for global technology.

Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi has dismissed the possibility of peace talks with M23, accusing the group of being a proxy for Rwanda aimed at illegally exploiting Congo’s natural wealth. Last week, the UK government joined calls for an “inclusive dialogue” involving M23 to seek a political resolution to the conflict.

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However, in an interview with the BBC, DR Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka stated that her government prefers to negotiate directly with Rwanda, which it alleges supports M23.

The conflict has escalated since January, with Congolese authorities reporting at least 8,500 deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced. UN experts and others have implicated Rwanda in playing a significant role in the violence.

Peace talks mediated by Angola stalled last December after Rwanda insisted on direct negotiations between the Congolese government and M23. Following the impasse, the rebel group rapidly advanced, capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu in January and February.

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During a recent regional mediation effort involving East and Southern African leaders, calls were made for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of “uninvited foreign armed forces” from Congolese territory, and direct talks between “state and non-state parties, including M23.”

When questioned about the presence of Rwandan troops in DR Congo, Rwandan President Paul Kagame neither confirmed nor denied it, simply stating, “I don’t know,” in a CNN interview.