DR Congo Stands Firm Against Pressure for Dialogue with M23 Rebels

The Democratic Republic of Congo refuses to engage in direct discussions with the M23 rebels despite mounting external pressure. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka emphasizes the need to negotiate with Rwanda, whom they accuse of military support for the rebels. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties and internal displacement, with neighbors calling for an end to hostilities.

In a stark response to rising international pressure, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains resolute in its decision to avoid direct negotiations with the M23 rebel group, which has gained substantial ground in eastern DRC during recent months. The UK government last week joined the chorus urging for an "inclusive dialogue" involving the rebels to foster a political resolution to the conflict. However, DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka articulated her government’s stance in an interview with BBC, asserting that negotiations should focus on Rwanda, the country accused of backing the M23.

Since hostilities escalated in January, Congolese authorities report at least 8,500 deaths and widespread displacement, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes. The DRC holds Rwanda accountable, citing a UN experts' report which claims that 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan troops have crossed into Congolese territory to support the M23. "The aggressor of our territorial integrity is Rwanda," Suminwa Tuluka stated, underlining the DRC's perceived threat from its neighbor.

Peace talks mediated by Angola recently stalled, particularly after Kigali insisted that any solution requires direct talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels. Following the rebels' successful seizure of cities such as Goma and Bukavu in January and February, a recent joint East and Southern African mediation initiative urged for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of foreign forces, and negotiations involving “state and non-state parties, including M23.”

Rwandan President Paul Kagame's evasion of questions regarding troop presence in DRC could further complicate relations, particularly as his country faces declining favor internationally. The mounting pressure on Rwanda to vacate DRC territory is echoed by Suminwa Tuluka, who asserts that "it has not yet effectively done so."

The Congolese government has welcomed recent US sanctions against Rwandan officials, including James Kabarebe, viewing them as a means to exert pressure on aggressors. In contrast, Rwanda's response to the sanctions has been to label them as "unjustified" and ineffective.

The European Commission has suspended defense consultations with Rwanda and is reviewing its memorandum of understanding on raw materials over concerns of illegal resource exploitation in the eastern DRC — an assertion Rwanda disputes. The UK's stance also includes halting development aid unless Rwanda pulls back its military presence and engages in substantive peace talks.

While Rwanda insists on its right to defend national security, it continues to accuse the DRC of collaborating with the FDLR, a militant group tied to the Rwandan genocide. Suminwa Tuluka, however, refuted these claims and expressed a commitment to neutralizing the FDLR without collaboration.

When discussing the pathways to achieving peace without direct contact with the M23, she emphasized that a ceasefire could only be guaranteed through the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to the M23’s violence against Congolese civilians.