The AFC militant umbrella group has claimed the bloc is undermining ceasefire efforts and obstructing much-anticipated Angolan negotiations

The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition which is fighting a brutal war against the Democratic Republic of Congo's government, has blamed the EU for its last-minute decision to pull out of peace talks due to be held in Angola.

Brussels has announced sanctions against five senior rebel leaders including its president, Bertrand Bisimwa, for "serious human rights violations and abuses."

In response, the AFC coalition, which includes the powerful M23 force, withdrew from the proposed meeting claiming the EU is deliberately attempting to undermine peace efforts in the DR Congo and obstruct "much-anticipated talks."

"Successive sanctions imposed on our members, including those enacted on the eve of the Luanda discussions, severely undermine direct dialogue and make any progress impossible. Under these circumstances, the talks have become impracticable. Consequently, our organization can no longer continue to participate in the discussions," the AFC stated.

According to official figures, at least 8,500 people, including children and international peacekeepers, have been killed in the Central African nation since clashes broke out between the rebels and Congolese forces at the beginning of the year, escalating a decades-old conflict. The militants have seized major cities, including the North Kivu capital, Goma, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.

Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco has offered to serve as a mediator in bringing the M23 and the Congolese government to the negotiating table, with direct ceasefire talks planned for Tuesday.

The militant group acknowledged receiving an invitation to participate in the talks in Angola's capital, Luanda. Its leader, Bisimwa, had described dialogue as "the only civilized option to resolve the current crisis that has lasted for decades."

Kinshasa had said it will send a delegation to Angola for the peace talks with the M23. The Congolese authorities had previously refused to hold discussions with the rebels, insisting they would only negotiate with Rwanda, which it alleges is supporting the armed group.

On Monday, the EU also sanctioned top Rwanda Defense Force officials, including special forces commander Ruki Karusisi, "for sustaining the armed conflict, instability, and insecurity" in the DR Congo.

Earlier on Monday, Rwanda, which has repeatedly denied any involvement in the violence, criticized Belgium for calling on Western nations to impose sanctions on Kigali. The East African country has severed diplomatic ties with Brussels and ordered its diplomats to leave Kigali within 48 hours.

The former colonial power responded by declaring Rwandan diplomats persona non grata and canceling cooperation agreements.

(RT.com)