An official of the Democratic Republicof Congo government is warning various armed groups that the administrationwill not kowtow to blackmail.
Communications Minister Lambert Mende said thegovernment is also determined to ensure the safety of Congolese.
This comesafter a rebel group suspended participation in the 2008 Goma peace process andthreatened to take up arms.
Therebel group accused President Joseph Kabila's government of failing fully toimplement the agreement despite repeated promises.
Concerned citizens ofrestive Kivu province express worry the rebel threat will undermine the newlyreached peace.
Minister Mende said that governmenttroops are ready to quell any rebel insurgency.
"Theyhave been given two alternatives: either joining the army, or being re-insertedsocially. I think that they feel that they can't follow the rules of the armyand they are pulling out from that way of solving their problems," Mende said.
Hesaid the government is hopeful that deserting rebels would abide by the Gomaagreement.
"Wehope that they will go to the other way that the government is giving them.This is the way of re-inserting professionally and socially," he said.
Mendesaid the rebels will not shake Kinshasa's resolve.
"Theycan do whatever they think is okay for them. But we will not accept them toblackmail the state like taking again guns against the state. If they do so,they will meet appropriate reaction from the security personnel," Mende said.
Hedenied the government abdicated its responsibilities in the peace agreement.
"Wehave 25 Mai Mai groups. If one group among 25 groups says so, do you think thathe is the representative of the Mai Mai? This is a small group among groups whohave joined the peace agreement and they are implementing the peace agreementwith our army commanders," he said.
Mendesaid there is a new wind of change blowing in the Congo.
"Maybethey (rebel groups) are not well aware of the situation because they think thatthe situation has not changed. They think that Congo is living under the threatfrom some neighboring countries that was giving the opportunity to some compatriotsto blackmail the Democratic Republic of Congo. Things have changed," Mendesaid.
Hesaid the rebels don't pose any threat to the administration.
"Firstof all, we don't consider what you consider threats as a threat. We considerjust Congolese people exerting their rights and speaking freely. We have notheard that somebody has taken guns, so it is something we can bear," he said.
Mendealso denied the newly found peace in the Kivu provinces is under anyexistential threat from rebel insurgency.