- Congo expects ‘a real ceasefire’ from the Dar es Salaam summit and the withdrawal of Rwandan soldiers, Muyaya tells Anadolu

- For better flow of humanitarian aid, the easiest solution ‘will be to remove Rwandan soldiers’ from Goma airport, says Muyaya

GENEVA 

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expressed hope for a “real ceasefire” ahead of a joint African summit that aims to halt the deadly violence and mass displacement continuing to devastate the country’s east.

🇨🇩 DR Congo demands ‘real ceasefire’ ahead of African summit

➡️ Gov’t spokesperson Patrick Muyaya rejects M23’s ceasefire as a 'joke' and a 'lie', calling for Rwandan troops to withdraw from Goma

➡️ Congo urges international pressure on Rwanda to end the crisis… pic.twitter.com/trRVO2PKpQ

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 7, 2025

Congolese officials have rejected outright the recent announcement of a ceasefire by the M23 rebel group, calling it a deceptive ploy aimed at misleading the international community while prolonging instability.

In an interview with Anadolu, government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya dismissed M23’s unilateral declaration as nothing more than a facade: “It was a joke. It was a lie. They keep doing this for months now ... When M23 announces such things, it’s just a warning, meaning ‘get ready to be attacked.’”

However, Muyaya voiced cautious optimism about the extraordinary summit set to begin in Dar es Salaam on Friday, emphasizing the need for concrete actions.

The two-day summit brings together heads of state from the 6-member East African Community (EAC) and 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC), including Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.

“I think the first thing we can expect from this summit is a real ceasefire,” said Muyaya.

“And then, to get out Rwandan soldiers (from Congo), because they don’t have any place inside DRC.”

He pointed to previous peace efforts, such as the Luanda process, and accused Rwanda of undermining progress by insisting that Kinshasa engage directly with its “proxy M23.”

M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, has long been accused of receiving support from Rwanda, a charge Kigali denies.

Muyaya warned that granting M23 a special status is simply “unacceptable” as it would only serve to legitimize a group responsible for some of the worst violence in eastern Congo.

“One recommendation is just to get back in the Luanda (process), and the other recommendation is to get back in the Nairobi process, so we can find a solution for M23 and all the different armed groups,” he said.

Humanitarian crisis and violence

Despite claims from both M23 and Rwanda that peace talks are advancing, Muyaya insisted that the reality on the ground tells a different story.

He cited the staggering human toll – over 3,000 people killed and thousands more injured in a matter of days – as evidence that the group’s actions do not align with their words.

He further highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, where violence has forced thousands of people to flee.

M23 declared a unilateral ceasefire on Monday after weeks of fierce battles with the Congolese army for control of the key eastern city of Goma. However, by Wednesday, local media reported that the group had captured Nyabibwe, a city in South Kivu province, despite the ceasefire claim.

“The more they get territory, the more they will bring terror, and this must stop,” Muyaya warned.

The continued closure of Goma’s airport remains a major obstacle to humanitarian efforts in eastern Congo.

“The first thing, and the easiest solution, will be to remove Rwandan soldiers so we can be able to go and repair the airport,” Muyaya said.

He confirmed that the Congolese government has been in contact with MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, to expedite repairs.

“We need that lifeline working so we can provide more assistance to those people in need,” he emphasized.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also underscored the urgency of reopening the airport.

“Every hour counts now, more people’s lives are in danger,” said Jens Laerke, OCHA’s spokesperson, citing Bruno Lemarquis, the UN’s resident coordinator in Congo. “The survival of thousands of people depends on that reopening.”

Foreign interests and international pressure

Beyond the immediate conflict, Muyaya accused external forces of fueling the violence for economic gain, a reference to accusations that Rwanda is supporting M23 to exploit Congo’s rich resources.

He also called on the UN to investigate the recent attacks in Goma and other affected areas. “We need to know who is responsible … for the massacres and bring them to justice,” Muyaya said, adding that accountability is crucial to bringing peace back to the eastern Congo.

Muyaya called for meaningful sanctions and diplomatic action against Rwanda, terming it vital to resolving the crisis.

If there is real international pressure and sanctions on Rwanda, “we will have soldiers out of Goma,” he asserted. “This is the start of solving the problem.”

For the upcoming summit, Muyaya reiterated that Congo remains firm on its demands for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign troops. “We are working to protect our civilians,” he concluded. ​​​​​​​