Despite growing international pressure, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has firmly decided to have a direct dialogue with the M23 rebel group, which has made significant progress in the eastern part of the country in recent months.
Last week, the UK government added calls to the group to be part of an “inclusive dialogue” to help find a political solution to the conflict.
But in an interview with the BBC, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka said her government wants to negotiate with neighboring Rwanda and accused him of supporting M23.
According to Congolese authorities, at least 8,500 people have been killed since the fight escalated in January.
Amid the chaos caused by the battle, thousands of people were also forced from their homes, with UN experts and others seeing Rwanda as a key role.
“The fact remains that the invaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Rwanda,” said Suminwa Tuluka.
Peace negotiations led by Angola reached a deadlock in December last year after Rwanda demanded a direct dialogue with the M23.
The rebel groups then quickly promoted, controlling the cities of Goma and Bukavo in January and February.
During a joint mediation effort in eastern and southern Africa last month, regional leaders called for a ceasefire, a withdrawal from the Congolese territory of the “uninvited foreign armed forces” and also urged direct negotiations between “state and non-state parties…including M23.”
When asked, Rwandan President Paul Kagame did not deny the presence of his troops in the Congo. “I don't know,” he said in an interview with CNN.
The conflict throughout the border has seen his country, often seen as the darling of the West, now losing favor in general.
The pressure is increasing to allow it to withdraw its forces from the Congolese soil.
“But it has not been done effectively yet,” Suminwa Tuluka said.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka accuses Rwanda of standing on meaningful negotiations [EPA]
She welcomed the U.S. sanctions imposed by Rwandan government minister James Kabarebe, saying they would help “put pressure on the aggressors.” However, Rwanda refuted their “injustice and ineffectiveness in addressing the crisis”.
Part of the European Commission has suspended “defense consultation” and “reviewed” the memorandum to understand its understanding of the signing of raw materials with Rwanda last year.
The Congolese Prime Minister welcomed the European Commission's decision, saying “illegal exploitation of resources – this is one of the causes of the conflict”.
The Congolese doctor accused Rwanda of illegally using its mineral deposits in the eastern part of the country, which Rwanda denied.
The UK said last week that, among other measures, the choir targeting Rwanda, “meaningfully” with the ceasefire during the conversation unless the country withdraws its forces, among other measures.
Rwanda called the decision “punitive”, saying it was unreasonable to expect it to harm its national security.
The Congolese Prime Minister said Rwanda ignored all calls to evacuate troops.
“So, who is standing [resolving the conflict]? This is not the Congolese government,” she said.
Rwanda had previously admitted to deploying troops “defense and offensive” in the ongoing conflict, claiming to defend its rights to the territory.
It has also repeatedly accused the Congolese government of hiding and working with residents of militant groups to liberate Rwanda (FDLR), whose members include fighters of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
When asked about this, Suminwa Tuluka denied that the Congolese army cooperated with the FDLR rebels, but said her country would “neutralize” the militants.
The Prime Minister said that when direct conversations with M23 are excluded, the problem of the problem will be solved, and when negotiating with Rwanda, the answer is simple, which will ensure a ceasefire.
“Make sure Rwandan troops exit Congolese territory and make sure their M23 stops killing the Congolese population,” she said.
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