Kinshasa: The regional blocs of Southern and Eastern Africa have broadened their mediation team to help broker a resolution to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continue to make territorial gains. This decision was made during a high-level summit on Monday, which Rwanda described as productive.
Efforts to de-escalate the violence appeared to have reached an impasse last week after M23 rebels failed to attend scheduled peace talks with the Congolese government in Angola. Instead, they seized control of Walikale, a key strategic town. The conflict, fueled by long-standing tensions following the 1994 Rwandan genocide and competition over valuable mineral resources, has resulted in thousands of deaths and heightened fears of a broader regional war.
To revive negotiations, the regional blocs appointed a five-member panel consisting of former heads of state, including Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe, and Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde. Their mandate is to facilitate the peace process, according to an official statement released early Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Congolese presidency announced on social media platform X that the newly formed panel will designate a new mediator to replace Angola’s president, who stepped down from the role after years of unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Rwanda and Congo.
Rwanda, facing international sanctions and aid suspensions over allegations of providing military support to M23, welcomed the summit’s outcome. Kigali emphasized that the attending leaders were committed to pursuing a political resolution that considers the security concerns of all stakeholders.
Kinshasa continues to accuse M23 of acting as a proxy force for Rwanda, an allegation Kigali denies. However, Rwanda claims its military presence in the region is a response to security threats posed by Congolese forces and hostile militias.
Last week, Angola voiced frustration over an unanticipated meeting in Qatar between Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The talks, facilitated by Qatar’s emir, marked the first direct engagement between the two leaders since the conflict intensified late last year. While the meeting resulted in a joint statement advocating for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the fighting has persisted.
The situation became more complicated after M23 withdrew from what could have been its first direct negotiations with Kinshasa. This move came in response to fresh sanctions imposed by the European Union on rebel leaders and Rwandan officials.
