Hopes for peace in eastern D.R. Congo as M23 movement announces end of revolt

The M23 rebel group, blamed for the revolt in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo) over the last year and a half, has announced it is ending its rebellion, raising hopes for peace in a region where scores of people have died in nearly two decades of violence.

The group announced it would disarm and pursue political talks hours after government forces drove its fighters out of their last two hilltop bases of Tshanzu and Runyoni before dawn. A two week African Union and U.N backed offensive had cornered the M23 group in the lush hills along the border with Uganda and Rwanda.

African leaders had urged the group to renounce their rebellion to allow the signing of a peace agreement with the government of Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila.

The leaders met in Pretoria in South Africa and late on Monday said a peace deal for DR Congo could be signed if the M23 declare an end to their rebellion.

The joint summit noted that all the 11 issues under discussion in the Kampala dialogue had been agreed upon and that the parties would sign an agreement on condition that the M23 makes a public declaration renouncing rebellion.

The joint summit between Southern African Development Community and some of DR Congo’s neighbors also commended the Congolese army and the intervention brigade for recapturing M23 strongholds and eventually restoring government control.

The M23 movement was founded by ethnic Tutsi former rebels who were incorporated into the Congolese army under a 2009 peace deal but mutinied in April 2012, claiming the pact had never been fully implemented.

It is hoped that the announcement of a cessation of hostilities will usher in a period of peace in the eastern D.R. Congo.

Source: Newswires