The Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes the M23 rebels, has called for direct dialogue with the Congolese government, following the rebels' capture of Goma, the capital city of North Kivu Province.

The rebels seized Goma city on Monday, January 27, after fighting with the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and their allies, including the genocidal FDLR.

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Following the capture of Goma, the AFC/M23 rebels announced their intention to advance towards Kinshasa, the DR Congo&039;s capital.

"We reiterate our call for a sincere and direct dialogue with the Kinshasa regime to address the root causes of the conflict and establish lasting peace in our country," rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement on Saturday, February 1.

He also thanked the population in Goma town "for their warm welcome and spirit of cooperation” with the rebel group "encouraging them to carry on with daily activities with confidence and peace of mind.”

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According to the communiqué, the AFC/M23 want the Congolese government to recognize that the armed group is committed to protecting people in areas it controls.

"We emphasize that the regime neither has the means nor the capability to launch an offensive against these areas. Should it attempt to do so, it would bear full responsibility for the consequences,” Kanyuka said.

The M23 also appealed to members of the FARDC, police, and the Wazalendo militia fighters to surrender, promising to assure them of their safety. It urged local residents who are hosting these individuals to encourage them to lay down their arms, emphasizing that "these individuals are Congolese citizens and will not face any hostility from us.”

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The M23, a rebel group that resurfaced in November 2021 after nearly a decade of inactivity, has since been the focus of international attention after capturing territories in eastern DR Congo.

Kanyuka insisted that the group is committed to a "peaceful solution” to the conflict, which has its roots from over three decades ago.