Rebels in the east of the country continue to receive backing from neighbouring nations.

Recent attempts at resolving the nine-month-old conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, between M 23 rebels and the Kinshasa government have not been so successful. Except for last November when the rebels pulled out of the provincial city of Goma, following talks mediated by the Ugandan government.
The rebels who withdrew to about 12 miles outside the city have since come as close as three kilometres from Goma city centre – thus prolonging the stalemate in the latest of DRC’s armed conflicts. The Tutsi insurgents, calling themselves M 23 and mirroring a previous 2004 to 2009 revolt, say they rose up against the government for failing to implement a March 23, 2009 peace agreement with CNDP rebels – to which they owe their origin.
M 23 rebels on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 declared a unilateral ceasefire ahead of a second round of peace talks with the DRC government in Uganda on January 11, 2013. The first round of the peace talks broke off on an unpromising note after the government delegation declined to enter a permanent ceasefire agreement that the rebels had demanded. The Congolese government later declared a permanent ceasefire, raising hopes of a quick negotiated end to the nine-month-old revolt.
But such optimism must be taken with a pinch of salt. Neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda have been accused by the UN of backing the rebels. Only the withdrawal of such support might cause them to lay down their arms. But such prospects do not seem likely in the near future. The DRC has dazzled explorers and invaders for years with its natural resources of rubber, timber, gold, diamonds, copper, as well as cobalt, uranium and coltan. But Congolese citizens have paid a heavy toll for their country’s endowment through recurrent armed conflicts sponsored by covetous local and foreign interests. Some of the rebel chiefs most sought for are said to be within reach of the Kinshasa regime and UN peacekeeping forces. Yet, the rebels continue to evade capture because those who should carry out their arrest are busy digging minerals and trading with them.
The UN Security Council on December 31, 2012 issued a travel ban and asset freeze against the M 23 rebels and leaders. Though the UN and US government over the weekend authorised M 23 leaders to participate in ongoing peace talks in Kampala, the UN freeze on rebel assets is still expected to bite deep. The UN Peacekeeping Department also recently requested the Security Council to back the use of surveillance drones for the first time in the DRC to monitor the country’s vast eastern border where M 23 and other armed groups operate. Rwanda has indicated its opposition to the use of the planes while other countries are suspicious.