The M23 rebel group reappeared at the end of 2021, when conflicts in the region worsened again: this month alone, more than 84,700 people were forced to flee their homes, according to UN estimates.
"We have made a lot of progress, but we have stagnated on one issue. We need the M23 cantonment to take place and, until that happens, we risk losing all the gains we have made so far", said the President, João Lourenço, during a conference joint press in Nairobi with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, cited by the Spanish news agency EFE.
The president of the country that leads the African Union negotiation process between the two countries said he does not want "it to remain stagnant": "We want to move on to the next phase, which is important and which has to be the cantonment of the M23", stated João Lourenço.
Without wanting to "go into detail about the obstacles" encountered, the President stressed that he wants to "remain optimistic".
William Ruto, whose country is leading a dialogue with many of the armed groups operating in eastern DRC, said they are prepared to find a mechanism that allows the Congolese people to engage in "consultations to facilitate the cantonment of the M23", once an agreement has been reached on "what happens next".
Angolan troops will be responsible for "guarding" these cantonments, added Ruto, quoted by EFE.
The UN reaffirmed this week that it was concerned about the risk of "direct confrontation" between the DRC and Rwanda.
Last year, M23 rebels seized vast territories in North Kivu province, which they continue to occupy.
After six months of precarious calm, fighting resumed at the beginning of October, forcing more than 84,700 people to flee their homes, according to UN estimates for this month alone.
Eastern DRC has been the target of acts of violence carried out by various armed groups for almost 30 years, many of them inherited from the regional conflicts of 1990-2000.
