Renewed Fighting in DRC Amid Regional Ceasefire Negotiations

Renewed fighting in eastern DRC involves M23 rebels and pro-government forces despite ongoing ceasefire efforts by regional mediators. Clashes have led to significant territorial control by M23, exacerbating displacement and fatalities. Regional leaders are attempting to broker peace, yet complex tensions with Burundi and the exclusion of M23 from negotiations hinder progress.

Renewed clashes have erupted in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels engage pro-government fighters, known as Wazalendo, in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. This resurgence in violence comes despite recent efforts by regional mediators, from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to establish a ceasefire through virtual negotiations.

Since January, the M23 rebels have made significant territorial gains, capturing major cities such as Goma and Bukavu, contributing to thousands of fatalities and displacing hundreds of thousands of individuals. Tensions escalated further when M23 fighters defied a commitment to withdraw from Walikale, a strategic town in North Kivu.

Local civil society activist Muhindo Tafuteni reported ongoing confrontations near Lake Edward, which serves as a border marker between Congo and Uganda. Additionally, fighting has spread to several municipalities in South Kivu, particularly those north of the provincial capital, Bukavu, which was seized by M23 earlier this year.

Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, declared that his group would persist in its struggle to secure the nation’s future, indicating a vehement refusal to accept any peace initiatives that exclude their involvement. “Anything regarding us which are done without us, it’s against us,” Nangaa stated in a recent interview.

In a concurrent effort to mediate the conflict, leaders from the EAC and SADC convened to further a ceasefire arrangement, addressing issues tied to the historical aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the competition for the DRC’s valuable mineral resources, which are approximately worth $24 trillion.

As part of this diplomatic effort, five former heads of state have been appointed to facilitate peace, including prominent figures such as Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo and South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe. The DRC presidency indicated the formation of this panel to identify a new mediator following Angolan President Joao Lourenco’s withdrawal from the role.

Simultaneously, tensions are exacerbating between Burundi and Rwanda. President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi accused Rwanda of harboring intentions to instigate hostility in his nation by supporting the Red Tabara rebel group. In response, Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo expressed disbelief at these allegations, emphasizing ongoing security consultations between Rwandan and Burundian defense institutions.

The renewed fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo underscores the complexities of the conflict, characterized by significant territorial shifts and the failure of diplomatic efforts to achieve peace. The escalation of hostilities illustrates the deep-seated issues stemming from historical grievances and the quest for control over vast mineral resources. Ongoing negotiations and the appointment of prominent figures as mediators may provide a pathway towards resolution, yet the exclusion of key stakeholders like the M23 rebels poses substantial challenges. The situation remains precarious as regional dynamics continue to unfold.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com