Congo conflict: African blocs expand mediation team

Southern and Eastern African countries have expanded a team of former heads of state spearheading efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Congo.

The move is an attempt to give fresh impetus to negotiations that have repeatedly floundered.

The latest setback reportedly came on Monday when the M23 rebels went back on a pledge to withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale and accused the army of failing to halt its own offensive operations there.

It was gathered that the conflict is rooted in the fallout from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and competition for control of mineral riches.

Since M23 stepped up its offensive in January, it has seized control of eastern Congo's two largest cities in fighting that has killed thousands and raised fears of a wider regional war.

Amid a virtual summit on Monday, the main Southern and Eastern Africa political blocs appointed five former heads of state to “facilitate” a peace process, they said in a statement.

The appointees are Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa's Kgalema Motlanthe, Ethiopia's Sahle-Work Zewde, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Central African Republic's Catherine Samba Panza.

Congo's presidency said the new panel would name a mediator to replace Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who withdrew from the role on Monday following years of largely fruitless efforts to ease tensions between Rwanda and Congo.

Rwanda's government, which has been sanctioned by several Western countries for supporting M23 with arms and troops, said on X that leaders at the summit “committed to a political solution that addresses the security concerns of all parties.”

Rwanda denies supporting M23 but also says its forces are acting in self defence against Congo's army and militias hostile to Kigali.