Peace negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, aimed at ending the M23 insurgency in Eastern Congo, collapsed on Sunday, according to a statement from Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s office.
The talks, held in Angola, faltered after Congo rejected Rwanda’s demand for direct negotiations with the M23 rebel group. “Further negotiations would not have resulted in an agreement without consensus on the M23 issue,” the Rwandan government stated, adding that it remains open to participating in future summits focused on resolving the conflict.
Congo’s government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, accused Rwanda of engaging in “bad faith” negotiations.
The summit, mediated by Angolan President Joao Lourenço, aimed to address the ongoing insurgency, which has displaced millions in Congo’s eastern provinces. The Congolese government alleges that Rwandan President Paul Kagame supports the M23 rebels, a claim Kagame denies. The M23 group argues that it is fighting to defend the rights of Tutsis and other Rwandan-language speakers in Congo.
Rising Tensions
The conflict escalated earlier in 2024 as M23 rebels expanded their control near the trading hub of Goma, seizing vital routes used for exporting tantalum, a mineral crucial to electronics manufacturing.
Tshisekedi and Lourenço also met with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is leading a parallel peace process to facilitate the disarmament of the rebels, according to Congo’s presidency.
Meanwhile, heavy clashes between M23 fighters and Congo’s army continued in North Kivu province’s Lubero territory, as reported by UN-backed Radio Okapi.