Clashes persist as Rwanda & DRC agree to de-escalate tensions

Clashes continue in Eastern DRC despite an agreement signed between Rwanda and DRC to de-escalate tension between the two neighbourly nations.

The Luanda mediation talks came after the African Union appeared Angolan President Joao Lourenco to mediate between the two countries that have been feuding over M23 rebels which DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting.

“I am pleased to announce that we have had positive results, in our view, in that we have agreed on a ceasefire, among other measures,” Lourenco said in remarks at the end of mini-tripartite summit attended by the DRC’s’s Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.

A statement by the DRC presidency after the talks called for a return to normal diplomatic relations between Kinshasa and Kigali, a cessation of hostilities and the “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of the M23 rebel group from its positions in eastern DRC.

However Nyanza Daily can report that despite the Luanda agreement clashes in Eastern DRC have continued after DRC military attacked M23 positions around Kanyabusoro and Kazubo territories causing residents to flee from their homes.

The M23 rebels have dismissed the Luanda talks with spokesman Willy Ngoma saying “only the M23 can sign the ceasefire with the DRC government.