M23 rebels defy Museveni, Kagame order to withdraw
Lokuli Prince reacts to finding the body of his father in the Ndosho district of Goma in the east of the DR Congo on Wednesday. Lokuli’s father, a military doctor, was killed in fighting between the government army and M23 rebels as they took the provincial capital. PHOTO BY AFP
The M23 Congolese rebels yesterday rejected calls by President Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to withdraw from mineral-rich Goma.
The rebels want to have peace talks with President Joseph Kabila before they end the offensive that prompted emergency meeting of Great Lakes leaders scheduled for tomorrow in Kampala.
Mr Jean-Marie Lugero told AFP that there “must be dialogue first” before ending the hostilities in North Kivu.
Presidents Museveni, Kagame and Kabila met in Kampala on Wednesday and ordered the rebels to withdraw from Goma town which they captured on Tuesday.
The United Nations and United States had hoped that Mr Kagame and Museveni would prevail over the rebels but they have defied them.
The rebel spokesperson, Col. Vianney Kazarama, was supposed to address a press conference yesterday at 4pm but he abruptly called it off, saying they wanted to consult their leader, Sultan Makenga who was reportedly in Kampala.
In response to the M23 defiance, the foreign affairs Permanent Secretary, Mr James Mugume, said yesterday that the rebels will be forced to withdraw.
“They will withdraw. If the Saturday summit approves the deployment of the International neutral force, they will be forced to withdraw,” Mr Mugume said.
Heads of state
At least 10 heads of state from the great lakes region are scheduled to meet in Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort Hotel, about 8km outside Kampala, to discuss the situation in eastern Congo.
The UN accused the rebel movement of carrying out summary executions in their sweep across the east and again charged that both Rwanda and Uganda were backing the group, whose chain of command is believed to include wanted war crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda.
Rebels said they had also seized Sake, about 20 kilometres northwest of Goma -- the capital of the mineral-rich North Kivu region -- and vowed to press on southwards to Bukavu, the other major city on the border with Rwanda.
They threatened to march to Kinshasa on Wednesday, about 1,500 kilometres away if President Kabila continues to refuse to talk.
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TIMELINE
Nov. 17: A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping forces in the region says the M23 rebels have taken the town of Kibumba, just 25km from Goma.
Nov. 18: The rebels launch a major offensive near Goma, halting on its outskirts. Some 30,000 refugees flee from a camp at Kanyarucinya.
Nov. 19: The rebels issue an ultimatum to the government, warning that they will continue to fight unless the government opens talks within 24 hours. Kinshasa rejects their demands.
Nov. 20: The M23 rebels say they control Goma and nearby crossing points on the border with Rwanda. DRC President Joseph Kabila travels to Uganda for crisis talks with President Museveni.
Nov. 21: In Kampala, President Kabila meets with the presidents of both Uganda and Rwanda.
