By Black Star News
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
The expected Monday peace talk meeting—where a peace deal agreement was expected to be signed—between Rwanda-aligned paramilitary group M-23, and the DR Congo government, was missed when M-23 representatives reportedly failed to show in Qatar. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka told the BBC the DRC government “doesn’t want peace,” claiming provisions of the peace deal are not being met by the DRC, who accuse M-23 of the same charges.
The mediation effort between the belligerents was being hosted by Qatar. M-23 and DRC had signed a declaration of principles on July 19, where it was agreed that they would negotiate a final deal by August 18.
MP3 spokesperson Kanyuka alleges that the DRC military continues to fire upon military positions held by M-23. DRC officially denies this, countering that M-23 has been attacking DRC military sites in the South and North Kivu areas. According to the United Nations, more than two million have reportedly been displaced in South and North Kivu, since January.
In eastern DRC, violence has escalated since August 8th.
When the peace deal framework was brokered in Washington, Trump praised it as a “glorious triumph.” The deal could allow the US to exploit the vast mineral resource wealth of DR Congo for help in securing peace.
During the ongoing conflict, thousands have died and are still being killed—and millions have been displaced. Earlier, this year the fighting had increased, with M-23 capturing major areas in the mineral rich eastern part of the country, including in the regional capital of Goma.
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