The leader of the rebel alliance M23 has rejected a ceasefire call from Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, vowing to continue fighting until its cause is heard. The rebels pulled out of direct talks with the Congolese government that were expected to take place in Angola. Instead, they seized more territory, including the strategic town of Walikale, which puts them in control of a key road linking four provinces in eastern Congo.
The conflict in Congo’s east has been fueled by competition for mineral riches and is rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. The M23 alliance includes M23, the Congo River Alliance, and other rebel groups. Its leader, Corneille Nangaa, claims the rebels are defending themselves against what he sees as a threat from Kinshasa.
Nangaa also dismissed a proposed minerals-for-security deal with the United States, calling it “treachery.” The State Department said it was open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo. However, Nangaa warned that any such deal would be blocked by the Congolese people.
M23 fighters have been working to re-open the airport in Goma, a key route for delivering humanitarian aid. The airport had been heavily damaged by Congolese forces before they withdrew from the city in late January. Despite this, M23 has pushed further west, capturing Walikale and putting itself within 400 km of Kisangani, Congo’s fourth-biggest city.
The conflict has raised concerns about a regional conflict akin to those that occurred between 1996-2003, which left millions dead. The United States has expressed concern over the situation in eastern Congo, while Rwanda has denied supporting M23 and claims its military is acting in self-defense.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-rebel-leader-reuters-qatar-mediation-doesnt-concern-us-2025-03-20