(CLO) The M23 rebel group withdrew from peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo authorities on Monday, less than 24 hours before the parties were scheduled to meet in Angola.
The rebel coalition, which includes the M23, announced its withdrawal from the first direct talks with the Congolese authorities because the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on the M23 and Rwandan officials earlier in the day.
M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: X/GI
The Congo River Union, representing the M23, argued that the EU's actions were aimed at "hindering long-awaited negotiations."
The M23 group has long demanded direct negotiations with the Congolese government, but Congolese President Felix Tshisekedilu has consistently refused, claiming that the M23 is merely a Rwandan proxy force.
However, on Sunday, Tshisekedi changed his stance and agreed to send a delegation to Luanda, after government forces suffered a series of battlefield defeats and faced pressure from their Angolan allies.
Tshisekedi's spokesperson, Tina Salama, said that after the M23 withdrew, the Congolese authorities would still participate in the conference as planned. "We confirm that we will participate at the invitation of the mediators," Salama said.
The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, stemming from the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the struggle for mineral resources, has escalated sharply since January of this year.
M23 militants have seized the two largest cities in eastern Congo, killing thousands and displacing hundreds of thousands.
The new sanctions imposed by the European Union are seen as one of the strongest measures ever taken against M23 and Rwanda since the conflict escalated earlier this year.
Zobel Behalal, a senior expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said these measures are particularly noteworthy because they target the Rwanda Mining Council and a gold refinery.
In its statement, the Congo River Alliance criticized international parties for adopting a "confusing and contradictory" stance.
"The successive sanctions targeting our members, particularly those imposed just before the Luanda talks, have severely undermined direct dialogue and made any progress impossible," the statement said.
Also on Monday, Rwanda took strong action against Belgium – a country that had previously called on the EU to take tougher action against it. The Rwandan government announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Belgium and demanded that Belgian diplomats leave the country within 48 hours.
The Rwandan Foreign Ministry accused Belgium, the former colonial ruler of Rwanda and Congo, of "using lies and manipulation to create an unfounded wave of hostility toward Rwanda."
Shortly afterwards, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot announced that Brussels would retaliate by declaring the Rwandan diplomats "persona non grata".
Cao Phong (according to AJ, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bi-eu-trung-phat-phien-quan-m23-rut-khoi-dam-phan-hoa-binh-with-chdc-congo-post338966.html
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