AFC/M23 rebels in eastern Congo just laid out their demands before they'll talk peace with the government. These tough guys want President Tshisekedi to announce that he wants direct negotiations publicly. They also demand the cancellation of that 2022 crackdown order from parliament, plus they want all death sentences against their leaders scrapped. The armed group insists that prisoners linked to them must be freed immediately - especially those arrested just for looking like them or speaking their language.
The rebels claim people who speak Swahili or Kinyarwanda face hate speech, oppression, and cannibalism - yes, actual cannibalism! They demand an end to these attacks. They also want a formal ceasefire signed before any talks begin. The DRC government refuses to budge, with spokesperson Patrick Muyaya declaring, "The Republic does not negotiate with terrorists." But President Tshisekedi recently met face-to-face with Rwanda's President Kagame for the first time in months.
This M23 rebellion started as a Tutsi-led movement that briefly captured Goma back in 2012. After a military defeat in 2013, they popped up again in 2021, claiming the government broke past peace deals. The fighting has forced more than a million people from their homes. Rwanda denies backing M23, but UN experts say evidence suggests otherwise.
The rebels claim people who speak Swahili or Kinyarwanda face hate speech, oppression, and cannibalism - yes, actual cannibalism! They demand an end to these attacks. They also want a formal ceasefire signed before any talks begin. The DRC government refuses to budge, with spokesperson Patrick Muyaya declaring, "The Republic does not negotiate with terrorists." But President Tshisekedi recently met face-to-face with Rwanda's President Kagame for the first time in months.
This M23 rebellion started as a Tutsi-led movement that briefly captured Goma back in 2012. After a military defeat in 2013, they popped up again in 2021, claiming the government broke past peace deals. The fighting has forced more than a million people from their homes. Rwanda denies backing M23, but UN experts say evidence suggests otherwise.
