DRC president weighs talks with M23 in Angola amid waning support
3 Min Read
The announcement comes after the DRC repeatedly ruled out the possibility of talks with the Rwanda-backed M23 militants.
-
DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi speaks during a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, April 30, 2024 (AP)
The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reportedly shifted his stance on dialogue with M23 militants amid waning support as reported by AP, announcing his plan to hold talks with the armed group.
Angola announced on Friday that DRC President Tshisekedi will hold direct talks in its capital Luanda with the M23 group on March 18 as the militants continue their offensive, capturing vital areas rich in coltan, tantalum, and other minerals.
The Congolese government has not publicly committed to Angola's announcement, however, three government officials told Reuters that the DRC's President Felix Tshiskedeli is seriously considering sending a delegation, with one senior diplomat claiming, "I haven't talked to a single African country that says Kinshasa shouldn't talk to M23."
As the DRC's army and allied forces struggle to mount a strong resistance against the advancing militants, regional powers are increasingly discussing the possibility of dialogue as a way forward, according to diplomats and analysts.
One source said the Congolese government will participate in the dialogue, however, it was still too early to say who will be part of the delegation to be sent to Angola, while other sources noted that the decision is still being made, noting that it wouldn't be made before next week as M23 rebels demand unequivocal commitment from Tshisekedi to engage in discussions.
Both sides expressed concerns about the framework and sought clarity on how the Angola-hosted talks would align with decisions made by regional bodies working to resolve the conflict.
Violence in Congo claims the lives of 7,000+ people
Since January, violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has continued to escalate, with reports indicating that the number of lives lost has exceeded 7,000, many of whom are civilians, as stated by Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka on February 24.
Tuluka reported that more than 2,500 bodies have been buried without ceremony, with an additional 1,500 remaining in morgues, as efforts to confirm the identities of all the deceased continue, while she emphasized that among the victims, there is a significant number of civilians.
With the Rwanda-backed M23 militant group seizing vast portions of the mineral-rich region, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, and facing little resistance from Congolese forces, their control has expanded further with the support of approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, according to UN experts, while their rapid advance has forced thousands to flee as reports indicate that more than 3,000 people have been killed in Goma alone, as stated by Prime Minister Tuluka.
