The search for lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a new direction with a fresh demand by the M23 rebel group to get involved directly in the talks involving Heads of State in Africa who are seeking to bring peace in the country.

In an update, the M23 group has accused forces from Burundi and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) of attempts to water down ceasefire efforts through military buildup.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the M23 rebel group welcomed the resolutions of the joint East African Community (EAC) and SADC summit held on February 8, 2025.

“The AFC/M23 fully agrees that only dialogue and political solutions can resolve the multifaceted crisis in our country,” the spokesperson for the rebel allows including M23 Lawrence Kanyuka stated, emphasizing that the group had been engaging with various political and social actors to push for governance reforms.

While citing its unilateral ceasefire declared on February 4, the group said it supports a political solution to the DRC conflict.

Last week, Heads of State and Governments drawn from the East African Community and SADC trading blocs met for discussions to spearhead the implementation of the Dar es Salaam Summit resolutions.

However, the group which has already taken control of Goma city in North Kivu Province and has since threatened to march to Kinshasa is accusing South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for misrepresenting the security situation in Goma.

M23 explained that the Goma and its environment had been “liberated and secured” and not overrun by armed factions.

“The implementation of the Dar es Salaam Summit resolutions concerning Goma must be discussed and agreed upon with the AFC/M23,” Kanyuka said. He added that unexploded ordnance and damage of the runway had caused delays in reopening of Goma International Airport for business.

Additionally, the rebel group said soldiers from DRC and Burundi were making reinforcements and such actions could trigger hostilities.

“We are reliably informed about FARDC and Burundian reinforcements planning to launch attacks on the populated liberated areas of Kalehe and Nyabibwe. Such attacks will provoke a decisive retaliation,” the statement added.

“We expect Burundi and SADC member states to contribute to peace in the DRC by ensuring the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of SAMIDRC and BNDF forces. We call upon these countries to honour and uphold the spirit of Dar es Salaam,” M23 stated.

Meanwhile, thousands of people affected by the fighting in the eastern DRC are leaving displacement sites in and around Goma for safer areas, the UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA reported on Tuesday.

In late January, M23 rebels captured the city - the largest in the region and capital of North Kivu province. Nearly 3,000 people have reportedly been killed and 2,880 injured.

OCHA Spokesperson Jens Laerke said over 110,000 displaced people have left sites in Goma and have started to move to villages in the Masisi, Rutshuru and Nyiragongo territories.

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