The meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi has ended in Luanda, Angola this Wednesday afternoon with both parties agreeing that M23 rebels immediately vacate Bunagana border town and other areas in eastern Congo.
The meeting was chaired by Angolan leader, Joao Lourenco who was selected by the African Union to media and “restore trust between the two neighboring countries.”
The Luanda Roadmap provides for the “immediate cessation of hostilities and the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the M23 from its positions in the DRC.”
M23 spokesperson Maj Willy Ngoma on Tuesday night said the rebels had seized 14 new settlements.
“Upon instruction of the movement’s hierarchy to permanently silence these weapons, the Congolese Revolutionary Army (CRA/M23), defeated the coalition FARDC-FDLR-Mai Mai and took full control of the following entities,” said Ngoma.
The settlements include Bikenke, Kavumu, Bugina, Mbuzi, Kinihira, Mutovu, Muhimbira, Shangi, Nkokwe, Nyabikona, Tanda, Rutsiro, Kashali and Bukima.
It remains unclear if M23 rebels, whom DRC says are supported by Rwanda, will vacate the captured territories. The insurgents recently defied an order by East African leaders to leave Bunagana.
The Luanda Roadmap notably stipulates the need to normalize diplomatic relations between Kinshasa and Kigali.
The DRC presidency said in a statement this evening that the tripartite decided on a process of de-escalation between the DRC and Rwanda.
“This objective will be achieved gradually via a so-called Luanda roadmap focused on reviving the DRC-Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission, which had not met for several years,” said the DRC presidency in a brief statement.
This commission will hold its first meeting on July 12 in Luanda, Angola.
Tshisekedi accuses Rwanda of arming M23 rebels to destabilise his country while Kigali blames DRC for arming and embedding the Rwandan militia group, FDLR, in the ranks of the Congolese armed forces. Both countries deny the counter accusations.
The M23 remains a big headache for Kinshasa. The movement’s activities not only troubled Tshisekedi but also his predecessor, Joseph Kabila.
Rebels’ views
Speaking ahead of today’s meeting in Angola, Maj Ngoma said the M23 “lends its support to the meeting… provided that it is able to respond validly to our legitimate concerns.”
Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of wanting to profit from his country’s vast mineral wealth, which includes gold and some of the world’s largest deposits of coltan, which is used in electronic devices.
“Rwanda has illicit vested economic interests in the DRC,” said Tshisekedi in an interview with Financial Times.
“As long as order is not restored in eastern DRC, as long as lawlessness and insecurity prevail, Rwanda will take advantage of that.”
According to the Luanda roadmap, “any exploitation of natural resources must be carried out with strict respect for the sovereignty of States.”
Both Tshisekedi and Kagame have warned of the risk of war between the two countries. Tshisekedi said, “This possibility (war) cannot be ruled out. If Rwanda’s provocation continues, we will not sit and do nothing about it. We are not weak.”
Tshisekedi’s statement comes just two days after Rwandan President Paul Kagame warned he had already “prepared for the worst” if the conflict is not amicably resolved.
