(Reuters) – The political alliances of Southern and Eastern Africa have expanded their mediation team to negotiate an end to the ongoing M23 rebel offensive in eastern Congo, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda. The decision was reached at a heads of state meeting on Monday, which Rwanda described as “fruitful.”
Efforts to resolve the most significant conflict in eastern Congo in decades appeared to have stalled last week when the M23 rebels failed to attend peace talks with the Congolese government in Angola. Shortly after, the rebels captured the strategic town of Walikale.
The conflict, which stems from the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and a struggle for control over the region’s vast mineral resources, has resulted in rebel occupation of eastern Congo’s two largest cities, thousands of casualties, and growing concerns of a wider regional war.
In response, the Southern and Eastern Africa blocs have appointed five former heads of state to facilitate the peace process. The team includes Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe, and Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde, according to a statement released early Tuesday.
Congo’s presidency announced on X that the newly established panel would appoint a mediator to replace the President of Angola, who withdrew on Monday following years of unsuccessful attempts to ease tensions between Rwanda and Congo.
Rwanda, which is facing international sanctions and aid suspensions over allegations of providing arms and troops to M23, stated on X that leaders at Monday’s summit had “committed to a political solution that addresses the security concerns of all parties.”
Congo continues to accuse M23 of acting as a Rwandan proxy, a claim Rwanda denies. Kigali insists its forces are operating in self-defense against Congo’s army and militias hostile to Rwanda.
Tensions escalated further last week after the Angolan government expressed frustration over a surprise meeting between Congo’s President, Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, arranged by Qatar’s Emir. This meeting was the first direct engagement between the two leaders since the conflict intensified late last year.
Following the talks, Tshisekedi and Kagame issued a joint statement, along with Qatar, calling for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire. However, the declaration failed to halt the hostilities.
Meanwhile, M23 withdrew from what would have been its first direct negotiations with Kinshasa last week after the European Union imposed sanctions on both rebel leaders and Rwandan officials.
