Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed that the ministerial talks will take place in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 17, 2025.

During the summit, the ministers will review a report prepared by the chiefs of defence staff from EAC and SADC, who met in Dar es Salaam on February 24, regarding the cessation of hostilities in eastern DRC and ongoing humanitarian operations.

Additionally, the meeting will focus on preparing a framework for political talks between the DRC government and its adversaries.

The EAC and SADC ministers’ meeting follows decisions made by the heads of state of the two organisations during their extraordinary summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 8, 2025.

The meeting comes amid plans for the phased withdrawal of SADC troops from eastern Congo.

On March 13, 2025, an extraordinary summit of SADC heads of state reaffirmed that political dialogue is key to ending the conflict in eastern DRC, ahead of proposed talks between the Congolese government and M23 in Angola, scheduled for March 18.

The heads of state decided to withdraw SADC troops from DRC after nearly a year and four months of deployment. The troops include soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi.

The March 18 talks in Luanda, Angola, mark the first official dialogue between the two sides after months of intensifying conflict, but M23 insists that Kinshasa must demonstrate genuine willingness to engage.

In a statement issued on March 13 by its spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, M23 reiterated that a military solution cannot resolve the crisis in eastern Congo. The group welcomed Angola’s mediation efforts but criticized the DRC government’s past reluctance to engage.

“The Kinshasa regime has persistently refused to engage in dialogue and has repeatedly declared that it will NEVER negotiate with our organisation,” M23 stated, citing recent remarks by DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya.

The group called on Tshisekedi to make an unequivocal public declaration committing to direct negotiations.

M23 also raised concerns about the mediation process, urging Angola to formally notify all stakeholders about the structure and terms of the talks.

The group claimed that it has only learned about the negotiations through a statement published on the Facebook page of the Angolan Presidency, highlighting the need for greater transparency.

Additionally, M23 requested clarification on the implementation of resolutions adopted at the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Dar es Salaam on February 8, which called for a political settlement to the conflict.

The conflict has worsened since late January when M23 captured the strategic city of Goma, followed by Bukavu in February. Despite these advances, Kinshasa had previously maintained a hardline stance, refusing to engage in direct negotiations with the rebel group.

Pressure has been mounting on Tshisekedi to change his position. During the African Union (AU) summit on February 15, regional leaders reinforced calls for direct engagement with M23. However, Tshisekedi skipped the summit, choosing instead to attend a security conference in Munich, Germany.

With the March 18 talks approaching, M23 insists that Tshisekedi’s public commitment to the process is crucial for building trust and ensuring productive discussions.

In a rare interview with Belgian researcher and former senator Alain Destexhe, Makenga accused President Félix Tshisekedi of failing to protect all Congolese citizens, labelling him “a bandit” who has shown no love for the country.

Since late 2021, M23 has reignited its armed struggle, claiming to defend Tutsis, Banyamulenge, Hema, and other Kinyarwanda-speaking communities who face persecution, killings, and other abuses due to their ethnicity.

Makenga insists that M23 took up arms only because they were “threatened with extermination.”

“We are fighting for our survival,” Makenga said. “We could not allow ourselves to be wiped out without reacting. It is unfortunate that the outside world refuses to see this.”

Citing attacks against Tutsi-majority villages, he pointed to a recent incident in Nturo, Masisi territory, where a village was burned down simply because of its ethnic composition.

“We must move beyond this ideology of ethnic hatred and instead promote reconciliation,” he added.

Makenga denied that capturing key cities such as Goma and Bukavu was a strategic objective but argued that it became necessary to stop ongoing attacks.

“From Goma, the FARDC [Congolese army] and other forces were shelling our positions and the civilians under our protection. We could not tolerate this any longer,” he explained.

He also accused the Congolese and Burundian forces of regrouping in Bukavu and receiving supplies through Kavumu Airport, which, he said, posed a threat that M23 had to neutralize.

Despite their military successes, Makenga dismissed suggestions that M23 intended to advance on Kinshasa, saying, “No, unless we are threatened.”

{{SADC troops and foreign mercenaries}}

As part of efforts to counter M23’s offensive, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania to eastern DRC. However, many of these forces are now holed up in bases around Goma following heavy losses.

“They can move freely but without weapons. We allow them to resupply,” Makenga stated, adding that M23 has no interest in holding them captive. “We want them to go home. They are free to leave whenever they wish.”

The M23 leader also condemned the involvement of foreign mercenaries alongside Congolese forces, particularly the alleged presence of Romanian fighters.

“It is unjust for people to come from Europe to kill those defending their rights. The world should be shocked, but apparently, it is not.”

Despite the ongoing conflict, Makenga expressed willingness to negotiate, particularly in response to an initiative led by Angola, which currently holds the African Union presidency.

“Of course, we want negotiations,” he said. “We have acknowledged Angola’s position, but we have not yet heard anything from Kinshasa.” Shortly after the interview, Kinshasa signaled its acceptance of the talks, with negotiations set to begin on March 18.

It remains to be seen whether the March 18 talks will bring about the much-needed peace deal in the eastern region.

In a report published on March 12, 2025, HRW alleged that since capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu in January, the M23 and AFC have engaged in a systematic campaign to suppress dissent. According to the organization, journalists and activists critical of the group’s actions have faced intimidation and violence.

“Restoring a measure of normalcy to the captured cities of Goma and Bukavu will mean allowing journalists and civil society activists to do their jobs without threats, violence, or worse,” said Clémentine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch.

However, in a strongly worded statement, the AFC/M23 denied the accusations, describing HRW’s report as “unfounded” and an attempt to mislead the public.

“We categorically reject the unfounded allegations presented in Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) report dated March 12, 2025. This publication is a blatant attempt to spread false information, mislead the public, and serve the interests of the Kinshasa regime,” AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka stated.

The group challenged HRW to present concrete evidence supporting its claims and accused the organization of bias due to its alleged connections to the DRC government.

“Our organization has never arrested, intimidated, or persecuted any journalist or activist. We challenge HRW to provide concrete evidence supporting its claims. Given its well-documented ties to the Kinshasa regime, HRW’s credibility is highly questionable,” the statement continued.

The M23 asserted that they have consistently upheld press freedom and allow journalists to work without restrictions in the areas under their control.

“The AFC/M23 has always upheld press freedom and remains open to both national and international journalists. Media professionals are free to operate within liberated areas without restrictions, censorship, or imposed narratives. We strongly believe in transparency and the fundamental right of journalists to report independently,” the group stated.

The AFC/M23 also addressed the killing of popular musician Indego. They reiterated their earlier claim, made via social media on February 13, 2025, that Indego’s death resulted from internal conflicts among the Wazalendo militia and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC).

“We stated that his killing resulted from internal conflicts among different factions of the Wazalendo militia and the FARDC, a fact that some media outlets have deliberately ignored in favor of misleading narratives,” the statement clarified.

The AFC/M23 rebel group has, in recent months, gained large swaths of territory in the eastern region, where it accuses President Félix Tshisekedi’s government of poor governance and the persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese communities.