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New Fighting After DRC Rejects Rebel Demand for Talks

November 19, 2012

by VOA News

New fighting has broken out near the Congolese city of Goma, after the Democratic Republic of Congo government dismissed a demand for peace talks from rebel group M23.

Heavy weapons fire was reported Monday on the outskirts of Goma.

An M23 spokesman, Vianney Kazarama said that the rebel group controls the northeastern part of Goma. The city is the capital of Congo's North Kivu province.

There also are reports of firing along the DRC's border with Rwanda. The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23, which Rwanda repeatedly has denied.

M23 fighters moved to within a few kilometers of Goma over the weekend, after pushing back government troops and U.N. peacekeepers.

The French ambassador to the U.N., Gerard Araud, blamed M23 for starting the latest fighting. He said France would introduce a resolution condemning M23 and calling for sanctions against the rebel group's leaders.

Asked whether those leaders would include anyone from Rwanda, he said the matter would have to be handled carefully.

"The question you have raised about the involvement of a country, which will be obviously be part of the resolution - I guess, a delicate part of the resolution, but it will be in the resolution," said Araud.

The rebels Monday demanded the government open peace talks within 24 hours or see a continuation of fighting around the eastern city.

The DRC government quickly rejected the demand. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said M23 is a "fiction" created by Rwanda to, in his words, hide its criminal activities in the DRC.

Most members of the M23 group are former Congolese soldiers who defected earlier this year, demanding better pay and weapons.

In its statement Monday, M23 accused the DRC of violating a 2009 agreement to integrate the rebels into the army.

Uganda also has denied allegations it is supporting M23. The Kampala government has said if the United Nations does not withdraw the allegations, it may remove its soldiers from international peacekeeping missions, including the one in Somalia.