Mbeki's M23 invite a hot issue for SA

The international relations department was not aware of the rebels’ presence in South Africa

- Lenin Ndebele

Former president Thabo Mbeki has thrown a diplomatic hot potato at the South African government by inviting Congolese rebel group M23 to Pretoria’s shores just months after Southern African regional troops, including the South African National Defence Force, returned from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with bloodied noses.

The rebels have a delegation at the Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s second African Peace and Security Dialogue running until Saturday, despite being designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and the African Union.

Department of international relations and cooperation spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said he was not aware of their presence and directed questions about the delegations in attendance to the foundation. The rebels’ invitation to the dialogue angered the DRC government, which declined to attend and also blocked some opposition parties from attending.