KINSHASA, DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo leadership has said it remains resolute on its position of not negotiating with the March 23 movement (M23) rebels.
The M23 rebel group said
Thursday that a ceasefire announced on Wednesday by Kinshasa and Kigali,
“doesn’t really concern us,” while calling for “direct dialogue” with DRC’s
government.
“Normally when there is a
ceasefire it is between the two warring sides,” said Lawrence Kanyuka,
political spokesman for the M23 movement.
“M23 has seen the document on
social media… There was nobody in the summit (from M23) so it doesn’t really
concern us,” he said.
According to Christophe
Lutundula the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the DRC
considers the M23 movement as a terrorist organisation.
“Do not think that when the Superior Defense Council recommended to the government to consider the M23 as a terrorist movement, it was perhaps out of hatred exaggerated by an excess of anger, No. It won’t happen. I can reassure you on behalf of the government and the President,” Lutundula said on Thursday while briefing the press.
Lutundula also brushed aside
rumours that some members of M23 were going to be integrated into the national
army FARDC.
“Our army is a national army.
It is not a rebel army, it is an official and regular army. An army of
Congolese who pay their taxes to maintain it. We cannot allow ourselves,
whatever the circumstances, to go against the instruments of the African Union,
instruments for managing the common destiny of Africans,” he added.
On Thursday, the European
Parliament urged Kinshasa government not to absorb M23 fighters that are
responsible for serious international crimes.
The European Parliament
reminded all state actors in the region of the need to cease all cooperation
with the M23 and other armed groups in the region.
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