"Representatives of communities from the Greater South (Sud-Kivu) through the South-South Council met with M23 chiefs in Goma on Wednesday, for dialogue on de-escalating tensions and promoting peace talks. Footage shows officials from the groups holding working sessions, followed by a group photo with the alliance leader, Cornel Nanga, held under tight security. “We came to Goma to meet with the AFC authorities and we have a message: a message of peace, a message of comfort, and a message of commitment that we conveyed to the AFC/M23,” said Amango Bahoumbwa Boaz, a member of the South-South Council delegation. “[Congolese people] have lacked good governance, they have lacked prosperity, they have also lacked respect, and the AFC/M23 is now committed to liberating all of Congo,” Boaz added. Meanwhile, Freddy Kaniki, deputy coordinator of AFC/M23, stressed the need to overcome the ethnic divisions that have led to years of infighting. “We have failed in our vision of building a nation; on the contrary, we have been taught to identify ourselves according to our ethnicities and tribes, which has destroyed national cohesion,” Kaniki stated. Fighting has continued in the eastern region despite a US-brokered ceasefire and economic deal between the DRC and Rwanda. The DRC claims the M23 are backed by Rwanda, which Kigali has repeatedly denied."