M23 rebels withdraw from scheduled peace talks with Congo

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said they will be withdrawing from peace talks scheduled for March 18^th with the Congolese government.

According to AfricaNews on March 17th, the rebels said their withdrawal is due to international sanctions imposed by the European Union hindering talks.

Additionally, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said recent military offensives by Congo’s army also caused their decision.

Kanyuka said the talks had become” “impracticable.” however, Congo’s government have said they are still willing to participate

Government spokesperson Tina Salama said a Congolese delegation was already in Luanda, Angola where the talks were due to take place.

Eastern Congo’s current conflict worsened in January after the M23 seized the strategic city of Goma, shortly followed by the seizure of Bukavu in February.

The M23 is one of several armed groups in the region, as competition over mineral resources steadily increases, contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis.

The rebels, who are backed by 4,000 Rwandan troops, have previously threatened to advance as far as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.

Currently, the U.N. Human Rights Council is investigating allegations of atrocities committed by each side, including rape and executions. As a result, the European Union has imposed sanctions on several Rwandan and Congolese nationals who are linked to the conflict.

AfricaNews, Maghrebi, Al Jazeera