M23 Rebel Group Refuses To Disarm, Calls For Direct Political Dialogue With Government

The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, which is currently active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has refused to disarm or demobilize the captured areas as long as there is no direct political dialogue with the government, reported The BBC.

 Lawrence Kanyuka, an M23 spokesman, issued the statement on Twitter after DRC President Félix Tshisekedi said there would be no political negotiations with the rebels.

“There won’t be any political dialogue with the M23,” said Tshisekedi on Thursday adding, “No question about it.”

The DRC president made the statement after a meeting with Angolan leader Joao Lourenco in Luanda. He reiterated that as per an internationally brokered peace agreement, the M23 rebels are to demobilize before returning to civilian life.

The group, which has been withdrawing from areas it had captured, has now said that it is expecting negotiations with the Kinshasa government.

It is expected that the DRc President’s decision to rule out chances of any political dialogue with the rebel group could stumble the peace process.

As per reports, around three-quarters of a million people have been displaced by the fighting between the military and rebel groups over the last 18 months.

The M23 rebels have gained control of swathes of territory in the eastern part of the country since it launched its latest offensive in late 2021. The rebel group accuses Kinshasa of failing to respect promises to reintegrate the rebels into the army.

The DRC government continues to accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23, but Rwanda has denied having any involvement in the M23’s resurgence saying that it is being scapegoated for Congo’s military incompetence.

 Accusations against the nation have led to a serious diplomatic crisis in the region. The United Nations (UN), the United States (US), France, and other countries have also made similar allegations.