Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Congo River Alliance (AFC), a coalition of armed groups that includes the M23 rebels, has accused the Congolese government of breaching agreements designed to end the ongoing conflict in the eastern regions of the country.
At a press briefing on Monday, AFC leader Corneille Nangaa alleged that government forces and allied militias carried out attacks in South Kivu, violating the ceasefire agreement intended to pave the way for peace talks.
“We are obliged to inform the Congolese people and the international community of the repeated violations of the ceasefire, which are undermining the principal agreement,” Nangaa said.
The accusations come after a July 19 declaration of principles, signed in Qatar, in which both parties agreed to initiate negotiations by August 8 and finalize an agreement by August 18. However, the deadlines passed without any concrete progress.
Fighting in eastern Congo has escalated in recent months, with the M23 rebels gaining control over two major cities in the region, further destabilizing an already volatile situation.
The Congolese government has yet to officially respond to the accusations. Meanwhile, Nangaa has called on Qatari mediators, the African Union, and the United Nations to exert pressure on Kinshasa to honor its commitments.
In a separate statement on Saturday, President Felix Tshisekedi said his administration remains open to dialogue but only with Congolese groups “who want to rebuild their country and emerge from the crisis.”
The AFC warned that continued attacks could trigger “an appropriate response,” raising fears of renewed clashes that could derail fragile peace initiatives. Analysts say the failure to adhere to agreed timelines risks deepening mistrust between the parties and prolonging instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.