Rwanda-backed M23 rebels announced on Monday their withdrawal from planned peace talks in Angola on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict after the European Union sanctioned their leader and Rwandan army commanders.
Earlier on Monday, the rebels’ group said it would be sending a delegation to Angola’s capital Luanda on Tuesday to join the peace talks, one day after Congo confirmed its participation, reversing the government’s long-standing vow not to negotiate with the rebels.
The rebels have launched a major offensive in the east of the Congo, gaining ground this year they had never controlled before, including east Congo’s two biggest cities and a host of smaller localities.
Rebels Backtrack
The M23 backtracked on peace talks after the European Union announced sanctions related to the offensive which targeted its political leader Bertrand Bisimwa and Rwandan army commanders among others. Rwanda denies backing 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,” a rebel alliance that includes M23 said in a statement.
Congo Sending Delegation
Congo’s presidency spokesperson Tina Salama said after the M23’s announcement that Congo would still be sending a delegation to Luanda as planned.
“We confirm our participation,” she said via WhatsApp message. “The delegation should normally be leaving this evening.”
Angola has been trying to mediate a lasting ceasefire and lower tensions between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda.
Global Sanctions
Besides the EU, the United Kingdom and Canada have also announced plans to suspend bilateral aid to Rwanda, while the U.S. also announced sanctions against James Kabarebe, a Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs.
Their ongoing onslaught, which started in late December, is already the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo’s vast mineral resources.
Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group.
Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda.
(With inputs from Reuters)
