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Congo rebels accuse the government of undermining efforts to peace

On Monday, the Congo River Alliance (a coalition of Congolese rebel groups, including the M23), accused the government of breaking agreements meant to end the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The fighting in eastern Congo intensified in this year. M23 launched an offensive which allowed it to take control of the two biggest cities in the area.

At a recent press conference, Corneille Nangaa (leader of the Congo River Alliance, AFC), said: "We have a duty to inform the Congolese and international community about the repeated violations of the ceasefire that are preventing the principle agreement."

On July 19, under a Qatari-hosted mediation effort, Congo and rebels signed an agreement of principles in which they pledged to begin negotiations no later than 8 August with a goal of reaching a deal by 18 August.

Both sides, however, missed the deadline.

Nangaa has accused the government and its allied militias in South Kivu, in eastern Congo.

The Congolese Government did not respond immediately to a comment request.

Nangaa called on the African Union, the United Nations, and Qatari mediators to pressure Kinshasa into honouring its commitments. He also warned that any future attacks would be met with an "appropriate" response.

Felix Tshisekedi, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said in a Saturday speech to his coalition that there will only be a "dialogue" with Congolese people who want to rebuild and recover their country. Reporting by Congo Newsroom. (Writing by Ayen deng Bior Editing and proofreading by Ros Russell.

(source: Reuters)