African Leaders Await Ceasefire Response Amid Eastern DRC Conflict
African leaders are awaiting responses to their ceasefire call for eastern DRC conflict. They urged military chiefs to meet and negotiate peace, as fighting between M23 and government forces escalated. The situation has inflicted heavy casualties and led to many displacements. The U.N. warns that without urgent action, regional stability is threatened.
African leaders are currently awaiting a response regarding their call for military negotiations aimed at achieving peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region, where fighting has intensified between the M23 armed group and Congolese government forces. During a recent summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, leaders urged military commanders to convene within five days to discuss terms for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, including the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the safe evacuation of casualties.
The summit featured discussions between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, with the latter participating via video link. The urgency of these talks comes as M23 fighters have aggressively taken control of Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC and the capital of North Kivu province, relentlessly advancing into South Kivu. The United Nations reports that the ongoing violence has resulted in at least 3,000 fatalities and thousands more injured or displaced.
A U.N. assessment indicated that Rwandan troops are reportedly present in the DRC, allegedly benefiting from the illegal trade of valuable minerals such as gold and coltan. Rwanda has accused the DRC of harboring the FDLR, a militia formed by Hutu extremists following the Rwandan genocide. U.N. rights chief Volker Turk has cautioned that without intervention, the humanitarian situation could deteriorate significantly, affecting not only the eastern DRC but also surrounding regions.
This initiative to negotiate peace is anchored by the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. Previous attempts at peace talks in Angola and Kenya since the M23 re-emergence in 2021 have been unsuccessful, with various ceasefire agreements failing to hold. Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized the importance of reaching a ceasefire, urging both the M23 and the Congolese armed forces to recognize and adhere to the demands to halt violence.
Although there were expectations for a peace agreement between Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi in Angola last December, the meeting was canceled due to mutual accusations over its failure. In response to the escalating conflict, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for collaborative efforts between both parties towards achieving a ceasefire, underlining the risk of the conflict widening across the region.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC primarily involves the M23 armed group, which has been involved in various clashes with government forces. The situation deteriorated significantly after the M23’s resurgence in 2021, leading to numerous ceasefire efforts by regional leaders and organizations that have consistently failed. The conflict’s ramifications extend beyond the DRC, involving accusations and military tensions between Rwanda and the DRC due to historical grievances and alleged military support for rebels.
The urgent need for a ceasefire in eastern DRC has been underscored by African leaders who are actively pursuing dialogue to mitigate the conflict. Recent summits have reaffirmed the necessity for military commanders from both sides to negotiate peace, while the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate. The involvement of various regional entities and the U.N. highlights both the complexity and importance of achieving stability in the region.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
