Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has ruled out dialogue with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel militia during a meeting with coalition government leaders and announced the formation of a national unity government.
“We must unite,” Tshisekedi stated at a press conference following Saturday evening’s meeting. He emphasised that the coalition should not be distracted by internal tensions and external manipulation.
Tshisekedi, however, did not provide details on the composition of the national unity government. He mentioned plans to engage in dialogue with various party leaders next week.
Regarding the ongoing conflict in the eastern part of the country, the President acknowledged that while the army has lost two battles, it has not lost the war.
The M23 rebel movement, which has controlled large areas in North Kivu province for years, continues its advance in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the end of January, the rebels seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, followed by Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, with little resistance. The fighting has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
During a crisis summit of East and Southern African countries in early February, Tshisekedi faced calls to negotiate with the M23. The Kinshasa government accuses neighbouring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels. The United Nations (UN) Security Council directly condemned Rwanda for its support of M23 for the first time on Friday.
