UPDATE - Dem. Rep. of Congo will not negotiate with M23 rebels: Government spokesman

UPDATE - Dem. Rep. of Congo will not negotiate with M23 rebels: Government spokesman

M23 recently began attacking army bases, villages

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Godfrey Olukya & James Tasamba

KAMPALA, Uganda/ KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The government in the Democratic Republic of Congo ruled out Tuesday the possibility of talks with M23 rebels.

UN radio in the country said, according to government spokesman Patrick Muyaya, that authorities vowed they would never negotiate with the rebels and if they do not surrender the army is ready to deal with them decisively.

“Today, for us, what's the point of discussing with a terrorist group?” Muyaya said at a news conference in the national capital of Kinshasa.

He said he does not understand why the M23 chose not to participate in talks in Nairobi.

Muyaya said during those talks, that it was agreed that all those who resisted dialogue would suffer force.

“Wanting peace does not mean being naive, wanting peace does not mean being ready to tolerate everything,” he said.

The Democratic Republic of Congo held peace talks April 25 with rebel groups in Kenya’s capital but the M23 rebels did not participate and instead began attacking army bases and villages in recent weeks.

The country has several rebels and militia groups which often attack army bases and villages causing deaths and destruction of property.

Muyaya thanked the army for repelling the recent attacks.

Kinshasa officially accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels after reportedly capturing two soldiers from the Rwandan army who were fighting alongside the rebels. Rwanda has denied the charge.

Chairman of the African Union, Macky Sall, urged both countries to remain calm and engage in dialogue for a peaceful settlement to the crisis regarding the M23.

Rwanda accused the Dem. Rep. of Congo armed forces last week of sending rockets into its northern border district which injured civilians.

Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta warned Tuesday that Rwanda will retaliate if attacked again.

He reiterated his government’s demand to release two soldiers captured in the Dem. Rep. of Congo.

“Rwanda will continue to seek a peaceful solution to the tension with DR Congo through dialogue with the government in Kinshasa. But as long as the attacks continue and the security of our country continues to be compromised, we will have the right to defend ourselves, and you are fully aware of our capacity,” he said at a news conference in Kigali.

The Rwandan Ambassador to Kinshasa, Vincent Karega, was summoned Tuesday for alleged Rwandan support to the M23 rebels.

Dem. Rep. of Congo Deputy Prime Minister Eve Bazaiba told reporters after a meeting that her government wanted to present its “protest, disapproval and warning” to the diplomat.


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