DR Congo Rebels Not Concerned By Ceasefire Brokered By African Leaders

The M23 rebels in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have said that a ceasefire supposed to take hold this evening “does not concern” the group.

African leaders have declared a cessation of hostilities to start on Friday in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where M23 rebels have been making substantial gains in recent months.

The signatories agreed an East African regional force would attack M23 positions if the rebels did not withdraw immediately from occupied areas.

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The M23 rebels on Thursday called on the DR Congo government for direct dialogue.

The rebels’ spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, said that as they had no representatives at Wednesday’s mini-summit in the Angolan Capital Luanda, they were not included in the accord.

The signatories – from Rwanda, the DR Congo, Angola and Burundi – said that under the cessation of hostilities, if the rebels did not withdraw from the area an East African regional force would attack their positions.

DR Congo has refused to engage with the M23, calling them terrorists.