Stalled Peace Talk Between Congo and Rwanda: A Setback For Ongoing M23 Conflict In The Congo

On December 15th, it was announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda had withdrawn from a peace talk set to take place in Angola. According to Reuters, the meeting aimed to unite both parties and implement strategies to de-escalate the ongoing M23 rebel conflict in the Congo. 

Located In Central Africa, the Congo is involved in a long-lasting conflict with the M23 rebel group. The M23 (the March 23 Movement) is a militia group stationed in the country’s eastern region. M23 was created in 2012 and is composed mainly of Tutsi soldiers who defected from the Congolese army. The group has exacerbated the human rights crisis in the region, leading to attacks on civilians and an increase in the use of child soldiers. During this time, Rwanda’s advocacy for dialogue between Congo and the M23 fueled Congo’s concerns over potential involvement with M23. Rwanda’s involvement comes from fears that Hutu rebel groups based in eastern Congo are a threat to regional security. The conflict’s root causes lie in ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi communities following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, where long-term ethnic division spilled over into countries like the Congo. As plans for peace continue to falter, rebel fighting has created a lack of education and healthcare for civilians in the area. Peace talks and conflict resolution must be prioritized in order to prevent further loss of life and destruction. 

In a statement made to Voanews by Congolese spokesman Giscard Kusema, “Rwandans have set a precondition for the signing of an agreement that the Congo hold a direct dialogue with the M23.” According to SABC News, Rwanda’s government further implied it would dismantle its defensive measures in exchange for Congo eliminating a Hutu rebel group that had attacked Tutsis in both countries. President of the Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, ultimately rejected such ideas. The standstill has led to international organizations like the United Nations (UN), the African Union, and the Congolese government claiming Rwanda has a connection to the conflict. In a recent UN expert report, there are allegations that Rwanda supports the M23 and has stationed 3,000 to 4,000 troops in Congolese territory. Rwanda denies these accusations, claiming it has only stationed troops in the area in self-defense. A Congolese government source stated that if Rwanda is “in good faith in the negotiations and on its promise to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil, the conflict will end with the M23.” In order to end the conflict in the Congo, the standstill surrounding negotiations must end. 

Congo and Rwanda’s withdrawal from the peace talk in Angola is a missed opportunity to facilitate peace and address the ongoing conflict. Rwanda’s push for dialogue between the Congo and M23 has led to the Congo’s suspicions of Rwanda’s affiliation with the rebel group. Congo’s mistrust of Rwanda and failure to collaborate has contributed to the conflict. In order to come to a resolution, a new peace process is necessary. Firstly, Congo and Rwanda must be willing to understand each party’s concerns regarding ethnic tensions in the region and agree on specific terms and conditions in order to broker peace. Agreeing on such terms will create a sense of trust and respect between the nations. Secondly, more direct involvement of international bodies like the UN and the African Union can foster change. These international bodies can act as mediators to encourage mutual understanding, facilitate meaningful dialogue, and prioritize resolutions. Mediation could also include deploying neutral parties to ensure troops withdraw from the region in a realistic time frame. These changes will open the floor for conversations about lasting peace agreements, termination of the conflict, and, ultimately, the region’s restructuring.

The unwillingness of Congo and Rwanda to continue with the planned peace talk in Angola worsens the conflict with the M23 group and deepens the human rights crisis in the region. The need for peace is crucial; failure to engage in peace talks will lead to further destabilization and worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region. When a resolution is achieved, hope for lasting peace will be on the horizon. 

 

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