As  talks to put an end  to the crisis in Congo are expected today in Uganda’s capital Kampala ,M23 rebels have  threatened to pull out of peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo government unless President Joseph Kabila signs a ceasefire agreement.

The head of their political wing, Jean-Marie Runiga, told journalists on Thursday the government had not matched his group’s offer of a ceasefire and had been reinforcing its positions,BBC reported

“If Kinshasa continues to refuse to sign a ceasefire, M23 is going to ask its delegation to return to DRC”, Mr Runiga said.
President Joseph Kabila Joseph Kabila has little control over eastern Congo

M23 say they want to improve living conditions for the people of eastern Congo, but the UN say they are supported by Rwanda, which has been heavily involved in its eastern neighbour since those responsible for the country’s genocide fled there en masse in 1994.

M23 rebels leader  Jean Marie Runiga

Bosco Ntaganda, who set up M23, was an officer in the Rwandan army before he left to join a rebel movement in DR Congo. The ICC accuses him of using child soldiers and the UN says he controls several mines in the east of the country.

DRC’s Eastern region has been controlled by rebels in the past decades with the M23 rebels the latest threat in the mineral rich region .

By UP