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Congo crisis: M23 rebels pull out of talks with DRC government
M23 rebel leader Bisimwa Bertrand speaks to the media in Bunagana August 2, 2013.
Congolese rebels M23 pulled out of planned talks with the government on Monday, angered by sanctions imposed on some of its members by the European Union.
The group changed its mind about attending peace talks scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda, accusing the EU of sabotaging a peace bid.
The announcement came as a delegation from the DRC government arrived in Luanda for talks. The group had said it would send five representatives.
According to a statement by its spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka, European Union sanctions imposed on members of the rebel group, as well as senior military leaders in Rwanda, are factors that are jeopardising the peace process.
"The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) deeply regrets that certain international institutions are deliberately undermining peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and obstructing the long-awaited talks. The successive sanctions imposed on our members, including those imposed on the eve of the Luanda talks, severely undermine direct dialogue and make any progress impossible," Kanyuka wrote. He has been sanctioned by the US Treasury along with James Kabarebe, Rwanda's Minister for Regional Integration. Both are accused of fuelling M23 violence in eastern DRC.
On Monday, the European Union sanctioned Betrand Bisimwa, political leader of the M23, Major General Ruki Karusisi, former commander of the Special Forces of the Rwandan Defence Forces, Major General Eugene Nkubito, commander of the 3rd Division of the Rwandan Defence Forces. The European Union also sanctioned Erasto Bahati, the governor installed by the M23 in North Kivu.
Sanctions have also been imposed on Francis Kamanzi - CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board. The European Union also alleges that the Gasabo gold refinery in Kigali is exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through the illegal exploitation of or trade in natural resources.
Sanctions
For the M23, these sanctions are "incomprehensible and ambiguous" on the eve of negotiations to resolve the crisis. "Under these circumstances, the talks have become impracticable. Consequently, our organisation can no longer participate in the discussions," writes Lawrence Kanyuka.
The announced negotiations could end in failure. The Kinshasa authorities, who have always rejected any dialogue with the M23 outside the framework of the Nairobi process, had agreed on Tuesday, March 18to take part in the peace talks under the aegis of Angolan President João Lourenço.
The Kinshasa authorities have not yet reacted to the M23's new position, which has just been announced. According to several sources, the Kinshasa government had selected Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former rebel leader and current ally of President Félix Tshisekedi, Evariste Boshab, a former close associate of Joseph Kabila, and André Mbata, an MP close to the Congolese president, for Tuesday's negotiations in Luanda. A cast of personalities known for their tough characters.
