
Rebels in eastern Congo have rejected a ceasefire agreement brokered with Angola’s help.
The M23 and AFC groups claimed they weren’t part of the recent talks and felt unbound by the Congo-Rwanda deal announced on Tuesday.
M23 and AFC rebels, led by Corneille Nangae, said the ceasefire doesn’t include them. They claim to have 3,000 troops plus 4,000 from Rwanda’s Defense Forces, per the UN Group of Experts on Congo.
Tensions between Congo and Rwanda have risen again due to ongoing conflicts in eastern Congo. Since November 2021, Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim Rwanda has consistently denied.
Angolan President Joao Lourenco was tasked by the African Union to mediate the conflict in eastern Congo. This region sees M23 insurgents fighting the government. A ceasefire was agreed upon in Luanda.
Congo and Rwanda have a ceasefire deal effective midnight August 4, overseen by a special verification team. Meanwhile, Congolese forces killed 20 ADF militants in Mambasa’s Lolwa region, the military reported.