Dar es Salaam, March 18 -- DR CONGO: The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition which is fighting a brutal war against the Democratic Republic of Congos government, has blamed the EU for its last-minute decision to pull out of peace talks due to be held in Angola.

Brussels has announced sanctions against five senior rebel leaders including its president, Bertrand Bisimwa, for “serious human rights violations and abuses.”

In response, the AFC coalition, which includes the powerful M23 force, withdrew from the proposed meeting claiming the EU is deliberately attempting to undermine peace efforts in the DR Congo and obstruct “much-anticipated talks.”

“Successive sanctions imposed on our me...