East African leaders give Congo rebels deadline to withdraw from occupied areas

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - A mini-summit of African leaders Friday gave Congolese rebels until March to withdraw from occupied areas in eastern Congo, days after new fighting erupted between M23 rebels and government forces.

The meeting, chaired by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, convened on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Ethiopia to review the deteriorating security situation in eastern Congo.

The heads of state “directed withdrawal of all armed groups by 30th March 2023 from occupied areas,” the East African Community (EAC) bloc said in a series of tweets after the meeting.

They also demanded an “immediate ceasefire by all armed groups.”

The Congo has accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, a charge Rwanda denies.

Last year, African leaders reached a similar agreement for a cease-fire and demanded “the immediate withdrawal of M23 rebels from the occupied areas” but fighting erupted days later.

After the resumption of clashes, the rebels captured the key towns of Kiwanja and Rutshuru, near Goma, the provincial capital.

Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, William Ruto of Kenya, Samia Suluhu of Tanzania and Felix Tshisekedi of Congo, Burundi's Evariste Ndayishimiye, who is the current chair of the EAC as well as Peter Mathuki, the bloc’s Secretary-General attended Friday’s the meeting, while Uganda and South Sudan presidents sent representatives.

The EAC has committed to deploy a joint force to quell violence in eastern Congo. But the regional force has faced protests by civilians for perceived inaction in the face of the rebels.