Meeting on the 18th March.
With USA aligned to provide security to DRC .
the meeting will take on a different perspective by Rwanda and M23.?
Embattled Congo president considers sitting down with M23 rebels
By
Ange Adihe Kasongo and
Sonia Rolley
March 15, 202512:42 AM GMT+11Updated a day
KINSHASA, March 14 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has long ruled out dialogue with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels rampaging through eastern parts of his country, but a string of defeats and waning regional support have forced him think again.
Neighbouring Angola
caught many by surprise this week by saying Congo and M23 would sit down for direct talks in its capital on March 18, at a time when the rebels are still seizing territory rich with coltan, tantalum and other minerals.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up
here.
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
Tshisekedi's government has so far not committed publicly, but three government sources told Reuters this week he was seriously considering sending a delegation.
With Congo's army and allied forces putting up
weak resistance to the rebel advance, regional powers appear in agreement that dialogue is the only way forward, diplomats and analysts said.
"I haven't talked to a single African country that says Kinshasa shouldn't talk to M23," one senior diplomat said.
"The line of everyone is, 'How do you stop the fighting if you don't engage with them?'"
One source said on Friday that government participation was a sure thing but that it was still too early to say who would represent Kinshasa in Luanda.
Other sources said the debate was still ongoing and that a final decision was not likely to be made until next week.
M23, for its part, said on Thursday it was
demanding an unequivocal commitment from Tshisekedi to engage in talks.
Both sides said they had questions about the framework and how the Angola-hosted talks would comply with decisions from regional bodies
attempting to resolve the conflict.
Southern and East African foreign and defence ministers are due to meet in Harare on Monday to discuss the push for a cessation of hostilities and political dialogue.
'FAILED' MILITARY APPROACH
M23 is backed by thousands of Rwandan troops, according to U.N. experts, and their superior weaponry and equipment has allowed them to seize east Congo's two biggest cities since late January along with a host of smaller localities.
Rwanda denies providing arms and troops to M23, and says its forces are acting in self defence against the Congolese army and militias hostile to Kigali.
Sitting down with M23 would likely be deeply unpopular in Kinshasa, especially after Tshisekedi's repeated vows never to do so.
But it would amount to an acknowledgment that Tshisekedi's pursuit of a military solution has "failed", said Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium.
"Kinshasa's position of dialogue is understandable because it finds itself stuck, thinking that the (rebel alliance) must not reach a critical threshold," he said.
This Article below highlights the level of corruption in the defence force
Generals loot the money while soldiers risking their lives barely get $50 per month .
Sounds familiar with the governing ministers while the vast majority of the population live in poverty,
DRC need USA intervention and IMO will give Trump what he wants.
Nigel and Team amazing efforts thank you
https://www.dw.com/en/why-dr-congos-army-struggles-against-the-smaller-m23/a-71898011
colitco.com
