The Kinshasa regime has lately been fixated on the cantonment of fighters of the M23 fighters, but that is because this is an easy fix for them. It’s also a defense mechanism they are using to wish the determination of the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese to fight for their right to nationality away.
But let us say the M23 accepts to be cantoned, disarmed and probably settled in their villages. How will this simplistic approach guarantee that the more than 266 armed groups, including FDLR, allied to the Kinshasa regime will also lay down their arms and stop harassing Congolese Rwandophones? Already, the attitude of the leaders in the Kinshasa regime shows that they are not about to let go of FDLR and other terrorist groups.
While the M23 has complied with the Luanda and Nairobi Peace roadmaps, the armed groups allied to the FARDC, including FDLR, Nyatura, Mai-Mai, APCLS and CODECO have continued to kill Congolese Tutsi pastoralists in Masisi and take their cattle with impunity and Tshisekedi and International Community have all gone mute about the criminal acts.
The International Community and regional leaders must push the Kinshasa regime to commit to the Luanda roadmap and come to the table and negotiate if lasting and sustainable peace is to be achieved in eastern Congo.