Rebels’ coalition in DR Congo yet to declare stance on the proposed Dar-es-Salaam peace talks

The rebel groups fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo are yet to make an official statement declaring their own position regarding the peace talks being convened in Dar-Es-salaam.

Kenya’s President, William Ruto announced that the Kinshasa Head of State Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame get to meet in Tanzania to discuss the crisis in the eastern DR Congo.

Tshisekedi and Kagame have both been avoiding each other when it comes to such talks on Congo conflicts.

But the coalition of Congo River Alliance (AFC) and March 23, rebels that are leading the fighting in Eastern DRC will not be present at the talks.

It is not known who will relay the information to them and if there is one person authoritative enough to order them to down their arms.

The rebels’ coalition is also yet to confirm if they are prepared to honor the formal agreements to be reached by the political leaders in Dar-es-Salaam or carry on fighting.

The two-day joint summit of the East African Community and Southern African Development Community taking place in Dar-es-Salaam will be preceded with ministerial meetings.

The EAC and SADC presidents alongside other leaders will officially convene on Saturday.

 “A joint summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East Africa Community (EAC) will be held on Friday and Saturday in Tanzania, to address the skirmishes in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement said.

“This follows an agreement between the Chairman of SADC President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and EAC Chairperson President William Ruto of Kenya.”

It seems both the Rwandan and Congolese presidents have confirmed their participation in the meeting.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has been at loggerheads with Kagame through online arguments, is also flying to Dar for the meeting.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia have also said they will attend the talks in Dar.