Southern and Eastern African countries have expanded the mediation team working on the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, appointing five former heads of state to reinvigorate peace talks that have repeatedly stalled.
The move comes after the M23 rebels backtracked on their commitment to withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale on Monday, accusing the Congolese army of continuing its offensive operations in the region. The conflict, rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and disputes over control of mineral resources, has seen thousands killed since M23 escalated its offensive in January. This escalation has raised concerns of a potential regional conflict.
In a bid to advance peace efforts, a virtual summit of the main Southern and Eastern African political blocs has appointed five former leaders to assist in the peace process. The panel includes Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, and Catherine Samba Panza of the Central African Republic.
Congo’s presidency has indicated that the new panel will select a mediator to replace Angolan President João Lourenço, who stepped down from his role on Monday after years of limited progress in easing tensions between Congo and Rwanda.
Rwanda, which has faced sanctions from several Western nations for allegedly backing M23 with arms and troops, emphasized the importance of a political solution that addresses the security concerns of all parties involved. While Rwanda denies providing support to M23, it asserts that its military actions are in self-defense against the Congolese army and militias hostile to Rwanda.
The conflict has escalated regional tensions, drawing in the armies of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. In a recent interview with the BBC, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, whose forces are supporting Congo’s army against M23, warned that Rwanda had plans to attack Burundi. He added that Burundi would not tolerate the kind of violence witnessed in Congo and advocated for dialogue to resolve the conflict.
Rwanda’s government responded by expressing surprise at Ndayishimiye’s comments, noting that both countries’ defense and security officials have been meeting to discuss border security issues.
Meanwhile, Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame held their first direct talks last week in Qatar, where they agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire. However, M23 rejected the call for a ceasefire, stating that negotiations between the rebels and the Congolese government are the only way to resolve the conflict.
A planned meeting in Angola last week also collapsed after M23 withdrew in protest of new European Union sanctions. With the situation growing more volatile, there are increasing fears that the conflict could spread further into the region.
