M23 rebels withdraw from Congo peace talks citing EU sanctions

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have captured key areas in Congo’s mineral-rich east, announced on Monday that they were withdrawing from peace talks scheduled for this week with the Congolese government.

The group cited international sanctions imposed by the European Union on its members as a major obstacle to the discussions.

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka also cited ongoing military offensives by Congo’s army as further…