The Democratic Republic of Congo has said it will not hold any negotiations with what it described as the “terrorist” M23, saying the insurgents must be defeated militarily to restore peace and stability in North Kivu, Eastern Congo.
“We are being forced to negotiate with terrorist groups,” said government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya on Monday night, adding, “This will not happen.”
The development is a huge departure from Kinshasa’s position to hold talks with the armed movement as suggested by regional leaders.
The African Union said the situation should be resolved diplomatically.
However, DRC sources said M23 had defied regional leaders by not relinquishing Bunagana town hence the military operation to dislodge them.
Muyaya said the defence council chaired by President Felix Tshisekedi this past Saturday decided to “increase the strike force of our armed forces and provide urgent humanitarian support to our displaced populations.”
He dismissed Rwanda’s claims that the Congolese forces integrated the genocidal FDLR fighters.
Tension between Kigali and Kinshasa has escalated in recent days with thousands of protesters pouring on the streets in Goma to demonstrate against Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebels.
Rwanda says Congolese armed forces are fighting alongside FDLR militia and are promoting hate speech against Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in North Kivu.
Muyaya yesterday urged Congolese to “Refrain from any type of speech, acts of violence or stigmatization against the Rwandophone communities so as not to give justification to the enemy (Rwanda) to destabilize DRC.”
Rwanda’s deputy government spokesperson, Alain Mukurarinda, yesterday urged Rwandans to refrain from going to DRC as their safety could not be guaranteed following recent developments between the two countries.
Protesters in Goma urged Russia to intervene in DRC and also Kinshasa to leave the East African Community.
They also accused Uganda of supporting M23 rebels, a claim Muyaya said would be investigated by Kinshasa.
However, Muyaya said Kinshasa had not signed any contracts with Moscow for military support and that the DRC would stay in the EAC.
Meanwhile, fighting continued in many areas in North Kivu between M23 and government troops.
The UN Mission in DRC known as MONUSCO said 15 Congolese soldiers were injured during clashes in Kiwanja, Rutshuru. They were airlifted to Goma.
MONUSCO has been providing medical evacuation, fire support, intelligence, supplies and carries out patrols, surveillance flights in support of the Congolese armed forces against the rebels.
