The leader of the Congo River Alliance, a coalition including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, has dismissed international sanctions and a proposed minerals deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States as ineffective in halting the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
Corneille Nangaa, head of the alliance, told The Associated Press that his fighters would continue battling despite a $5 million bounty placed on them by the Congolese government.
“We will fight like people who have nothing to lose in order to secure the future of our country,” he declared.
Nangaa also dismissed Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s recent comments on seeking a minerals partnership with the U.S., calling it a misguided attempt to sway foreign powers.
“This problem can be better resolved by the concerned Congolese, not foreigners with different geopolitical agendas,” he said.
The rebel leader further rejected last week’s peace talks in Qatar between Congolese and Rwandan officials, arguing that any resolution excluding his group would fail.
He insisted that dialogue with the government would only be possible if authorities recognized the rebels’ grievances and the deep-rooted causes of the conflict.
“Anything regarding us that is done without us is against us,” he warned.
The M23 rebels, who launched a major offensive in January, have seized key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, heightening fears of a broader regional war.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire collapsed last week after the rebels withdrew from Angola-mediated talks, condemning European Union sanctions against their leaders.
Meanwhile, the rebels’ planned withdrawal from Walikale has been delayed.
A spokesperson cited the continued presence of Congolese forces using attack drones, claiming it undermines peace efforts.