A de facto ceasefire between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the eastern town of Walikale appears to have collapsed on Monday, following accusations from the rebels that the Congolese army had violated its commitments, despite an earlier pledge to withdraw.
The ceasefire, which briefly raised hopes for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seemed promising after the M23 rebels took control of Walikale last week. However, less than 48 hours after the rebels announced their intent to withdraw from the strategic town and the army said it would refrain from launching attacks, tensions resurfaced.
Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for M23’s Congo River Alliance (AFC) rebel coalition, accused the Congolese army and allied militias of failing to remove their attack drones from the region, a key violation of the ceasefire agreement. Kanyuka’s statements further complicated the already fragile situation.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and fueled by competition for control of the region’s mineral resources, has led to the rebel occupation of the two largest cities in the region, with thousands of lives lost and fears of a broader regional conflict.
In addition to the collapse of the ceasefire, diplomatic efforts to bring both sides to the negotiation table have faltered. Last week, a historic direct dialogue between the Congolese government and the rebels was planned in Angola, following Kinshasa’s decision to drop its long-standing refusal to engage with the rebels. However, the M23 rebel group pulled out of the talks in protest of European Union sanctions against its leaders and Rwandan officials.
On Monday, Angola, which had been facilitating the peace talks, announced it would be stepping back from mediation efforts. In a statement, the Angolan government explained that it would now focus on the African Union’s broader priorities, leaving the role of mediator to another African state.
President João Lourenço, the current chairperson of the African Union, had previously sought to facilitate a lasting ceasefire, but Angola’s government expressed frustration over a surprise meeting arranged by Qatar’s Emir between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The Angolan government emphasized its preference for African-led solutions to African problems.
