GOMA, DR Congo, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The March 23 Movement (M23) armed group on Thursday announced its willingness to dialogue with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after claiming to have taken control of Goma, an important city in the eastern DRC.

Corneille Nangaa, political leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military group allied to the M23, made the remarks at a press conference held in downtown Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, a regional hub. Nangaa said the M23 and the AFC "are open to direct dialogue" between "us and the regime."

Kinshasa, however, rejected any direct negotiation with the M23 on multiple occasions.

"We are in Goma, and we are here to stay," said Nangaa. The M23 claimed to have taken control of Goma since Sunday, which the DRC government acknowledged.

Nangaa vowed to work with public servants and bank institutions in Goma and end the state of siege in North Kivu Province and Ituri Province nearby. Since May 2021, all local authorities and ordinary courts have been replaced by military and police officers.

Nangaa promised to restore electricity and security supply in the city and humanitarian corridors to help the displaced return.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi vowed late Wednesday a "vigorous response" to the M23's advances. In his address on national television, Tshisekedi said, "A rigorous response is underway" to reclaim every inch of the DRC territory.

He noted that in addition to military efforts supported by the United Nations peacekeeping mission and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, the DRC remains engaged diplomatically, particularly through the Luanda Process, a peace mechanism initiated and led by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

On Thursday, in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC, Tshisekedi received French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who is also the envoy of French President Emmanuel Macron. Both sides did not provide specific details of the meeting.

Barrot reportedly planned to travel to Rwanda on the same day. Due to the M23 issue, Rwanda's relations with the DRC are on the brink. Last Saturday, the DRC government announced the recall of its diplomats from Rwanda and asked Rwandan diplomats to cease all consular activities within 48 hours.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, an accusation Rwanda denies. Kigali accuses the DRC army of supporting and collaborating with remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group allegedly responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Peace efforts by multiple regional groups have been set in motion to avoid escalation of hostilities in the eastern DRC. Enditem

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