M23 rebels threaten to suspend ceasefire efforts if Kinshasa fails to release prisoners by Sunday, accusing the Congolese government of blocking peace.
The M23 rebel group has threatened to withdraw from a ceasefire agreement if the Congolese government fails to release its prisoners by Sunday, warning that Kinshasa, not the rebels, would be responsible for the collapse of peace efforts.
Speaking at a news conference in Goma on Friday, M23 leaders reaffirmed their interpretation of the Washington Agreement, signed last month between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The deal, brokered by the United States, calls for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops within 90 days, the dismantling of FDLR militia support, and the establishment of joint security and regional integration frameworks.
Benjamin Mbonimpa, Permanent Secretary of AFC-M23 and head of the rebel delegation to Doha, said the group would fully comply with the ceasefire if Kinshasa meets its commitments. “If our prisoners are released within the 10-day deadline, we will invite the Joint Verification Mechanism to oversee the ceasefire,” he said. “If not, Kinshasa will be the one blocking progress, not us.”
The remarks come just days after M23 and Congolese officials signed a separate Declaration of Principles in Doha on July 19, which outlines a formal peace process to be completed by August 18.
The Congolese government and Rwandan authorities have not publicly responded to the latest statements, leaving several key issues unresolved, including timelines for troop withdrawals, prisoner exchanges, and the broader enforcement of ceasefire terms in eastern Congo.
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, wit...
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukr...
Israel launched air strikes and artillery fire on Gaza on Sunday, in what officials called a response to militant attacks, as the U.S.-mediated ceasef...
The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after thieves broke in and stole “priceless” jewellery from the Napoleon collection, the French go...
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he is not afraid of going to prison, days before beginning a five-year sentence over his 2007 campaign fi...
The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels have agreed on a declaration of principles in Qatar on Saturday. The ceasefire aims to halt fighting and pave the way for broader peace talks, though major challenges remain.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 19th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a declaration of principles after months of Qatar-mediated talks, aiming to end fighting in the country’s east.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels issued identical statements on Wednesday pledging to pursue peace after more than a week of talks in Qatar, where violence and mutual distrust dominated the agenda.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, with losses and impacts on trade potentially amounting to millions of dollars, according to industry leaders on Sunday.
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Kazakhstan's energy ministry.
The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after thieves broke in and stole “priceless” jewellery from the Napoleon collection, the French government said.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he is not afraid of going to prison, days before beginning a five-year sentence over his 2007 campaign financing case linked to Libya.
Millions of Americans took to the streets for “No Kings” rallies across all 50 states, denouncing what they called the corruption and authoritarianism of President Donald Trump.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment