A fragile ceasefire in eastern Congo is unraveling, as M23 rebels refuse to withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale, citing alleged violations by the army.
The ceasefire, announced after the rebels seized Walikale last week, briefly raised hopes of reviving stalled peace talks. However, M23’s Congo River Alliance spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, accused the military of failing to withdraw its attack drones, calling it a “major obstacle to peace.”
Congolese army officials have not responded, but local residents confirmed on Monday that rebels remain in control of the town.
Mediation Efforts in Disarray
Angola, which had been brokering negotiations, announced it was stepping back from its mediator role. The country expressed frustration over a surprise Qatar-led meeting between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, emphasizing a preference for “African solutions to African problems.”
Efforts to broker peace have been complicated by longstanding tensions. M23 rebels—widely believed to be backed by Rwanda—pulled out of planned negotiations in Angola last week after the EU sanctioned their leaders and Rwandan officials.
Meanwhile, Qatar hailed the ceasefire as a “positive step,” but with M23 refusing to leave Walikale and the Congolese army silent, hopes for stability remain dim.
