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The M23 is supposed to apply a ceasefire from today Tuesday at 12 noon. The announcement was made by the Angolan authorities who mediate between Kinshasa and Kigali. Angolan President João Lourenco had obtained on February 17, 2023, following the mini-summit on peace and security in the Great Lakes region held in Addis Ababa, the mandate to discuss directly with the M23 command to advance the peace process.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
Until the end of last year, discussions were between Kinshasa and Kigali under the mediation of Angola, Burundi and Kenya. Meanwhile, relations between Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame have further deteriorated, complicating peace efforts.
Since January, the regional mediation has integrated into its approach direct discussions with the M23. First, on January 12, 2023, there was the meeting in Mombassa, Kenya, between Uhuru Kenyatta, mediator appointed by the Community of East African States (EAC), with an M23 delegation led by its president Bertrand Bisimwa.
The leaders of this movement had agreed to continue their withdrawal and to respect a strict ceasefire. The M23 was supposed to release Rumangabo and then disengage from Kishishe, according to an announcement from the regional force. Nothing was done.
The same approach was validated by the mini-summit on peace and security in Addis Ababa. This time, it is João Lourenco who has been appointed to discuss with the M23.
However, on the eve of the entry into force of this new ceasefire, fighting was reported in certain areas of Masisi and Rutshuru territories.
Passing through KinshasaEmmanuel Macron had declared that sanctions against Rwanda in particular would be considered in the event of non-compliance with this new deadline.
