KINSHASA - Democratic Republic of Congo's M 23 rebel group said it wanted to talk directly with the government after Congo's president and other African leaders signed a ceasefire deal aimed at stopping attacks by the militia.
The leaders of Angola, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo met this week in Luanda to find a solution to the conflict in eastern Congo, which has forced thousands to flee their homes.
They signed an agreement saying they would enforce a ceasefire from Friday, and said regional troops would intervene against M 23 if it did not withdraw from its positions.
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It said that the M 23 was not part of the discussions and found out about the statement on social media.
Lawrence Kanyuka, M 23 spokesperson, said the regional leaders were grateful for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict.
He said that we should have direct negotiations with the government to solve the root causes of the conflict that are leading to all these wars. Bertrand Bisimwa, M 23 leader, issued a statement about the same.
ALSO READ: UN Security Council requests the withdrawal of M 23 rebels in DR Congo.
The M23 government of Congo has ruled out negotiating with the government of the country as a terrorist group. Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula was asked about this at a press conference on Thursday. He said it wouldn't happen. I can reassure you on behalf of the government and the President of the Republic. The M 23 said that it had already declared a unilateral ceasefire in April and that it is Congo's army that is initiating attacks. Fighting has continued since, and the M 23 has captured several towns in the east of the Congo.
ALSO READ: Hundreds flee as M 23 rebels near the key city of Goma flee the Congo's M 23 city.
When it was formed in 2012, the group was the latest in a series of ethnic Tutsi-led insurgencies to rise against Congolese forces. It was pushed out of Congo in 2013 after seizing large swathes of territory, but has had a major resurgence this year.
Rwanda denies that the group is backed by the Congo and UN experts.