Congo’s President Might Finally Talk to M23 Rebels After Struggles in War – Reuters Reports
For a long time, Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi refused to negotiate with the M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda and have been taking over parts of eastern Congo. However, according to Reuters, recent military defeats and losing support from neighboring countries have made him reconsider.
This week, Reuters reported that Angola announced a direct meeting between Congo’s government and the M23 rebels on March 18 in its capital, Luanda. This is surprising because the rebels are still capturing areas rich in valuable minerals like coltan and tantalum. Tshisekedi’s government has not confirmed if it will attend, but three government sources told Reuters that he is seriously thinking about sending representatives.
According to Reuters, Congo’s army and its allies have been struggling to stop the rebels. Many regional leaders believe that talking to M23 might be the only way to end the fighting. One senior diplomat told Reuters, “I haven’t spoken to any African country that thinks Kinshasa shouldn’t talk to M23. How can the war stop if they don’t engage in talks?”
The Reuters report also explains that M23 rebels have strong weapons and support from Rwanda, which has helped them take control of key cities in eastern Congo. Although Rwanda denies helping M23, the United Nations says otherwise.
If Tshisekedi agrees to negotiate, it would be a major shift from his past promises never to talk to the rebels. According to Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba, speaking to Reuters, this would be an admission that his military strategy has failed. Many people in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, may not be happy about this decision, but some experts believe it’s the only way to stop M23 from gaining even more territory.
Another key point in Reuters’ report is that Southern African leaders have lost confidence in Congo’s military. This week, regional leaders approved a plan to withdraw their troops from Congo. These forces were supposed to help fight the rebels, but they failed to make a difference. Their withdrawal is a big blow to Congo, making peace talks even more urgent.
According to Reuters, Angola is stepping in because it wants to prevent a bigger regional war like the one that devastated Central Africa in the 1990s. Security expert Stephanie Wolters told Reuters that Angola wants to stop M23 from pushing further into Congo, which could lead to a full-scale war.
With all these factors in play, Reuters suggests that Congo may have no choice but to negotiate with M23, despite the risks. The coming weeks will reveal whether these peace talks will happen and if they can truly stop the war in eastern Congo.
Credit: Reuters