M23 reaffirms commitment to peace, calls for dialogue with Tshisekedi gov't #rwanda #RwOT

webrwanda
0

In an official communique released on Saturday, February 1, M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka stated that dialogue was the only viable route to addressing the root causes of the ongoing conflict.

"We reiterate our call for a sincere and direct dialogue with the Kinshasa regime to address the root causes of the conflict and establish lasting peace in our country," M23 said while thanking the "people of Goma for their warm reception".

The group reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all populations in areas under its control and warned the Kinshasa regime against attempting a military offensive.

'We remind the Kinshasa regime that AFC/M23 remains firmly committed to protecting all populations in the liberated areas. Contrary to its threats of attack, we emphasize that the regime neither has the means nor the capability to launch an offensive against these areas. Should it attempt to do so, it would bear full responsibility for the consequences,' the statement read.

Kanyuka also urged elements of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), police, and Wazalendo militias to surrender voluntarily at Stade de l'Unité, assuring them of safe passage.

"We urge those sheltering them to encourage them to come forward as instructed. These individuals are Congolese citizens and will not face any hostility from us," he said.

In recent days, a number of Congolese soldiers have surrendered following the capture of Goma with some seeking refuge in Rwanda.

M23's call for dialogue comes amid growing pressure on Tshisekedi's administration from regional leaders and a wave of protests in Goma.

On Friday, thousands of residents, including refugees, took to the streets to denounce the targeted persecution of Congolese Tutsi and demand President Tshisekedi's resignation for failing to address key issues and bring lasting peace to the region. These are the same issues M23 is fighting for.

Protesters also called for the withdrawal of foreign forces, including Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops, the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), and Burundian forces.

The protests follow the East African Community (EAC) extraordinary summit on January 29, where regional heads of state urged the DRC government to engage directly with M23 and other armed groups to resolve the crisis.

The summit emphasized that a peaceful settlement remains the only viable solution. However, President Tshisekedi, who has consistently labeled M23 as a terrorist group, was notably absent from the summit, raising concerns over Kinshasa's willingness to negotiate.

The push for negotiations has also gained support from SADC, which on Friday called for dialogue among all parties to restore peace and security in eastern DRC.

Recently, Corneille Nangaa, head of an alliance of rebel groups including M23, vowed that the movement would not retreat from Goma unless its demands were addressed.

Speaking to journalists in Goma, Nangaa declared that the rebels would continue their 'march of liberation' towards Kinshasa.

'We are in Goma, and we will not leave… for as long as the questions for which we took up arms have not been answered,' Nangaa said. He further pledged that M23 would restore essential services in Goma within 48 hours after they were cut off by the government during recent clashes.

With regional and international stakeholders calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access to affected populations, pressure is mounting on both M23 and the Tshisekedi government to reach a political resolution to the conflict. However, it remains uncertain whether Kinshasa will heed these calls for dialogue.

M23 has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all populations in areas under its control and warned the Kinshasa regime against attempting a military offensive.

Wycliffe Nyamasege



Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/m23-reaffirms-commitment-to-peace-calls-for-dialogue-with-tshisekedi-gov-t

Post a Comment

0Comments

Post a Comment (0)