DRC : the standoff between President Tshisekedi and the M23 is not ready to end

On Wednesday September 20, 2023, the Congolese president declared to the press in New York that he does not intend to dialogue with the M23 rebels. The latter seems to strengthen its presence on its part. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

He reaffirmed that “the group is under the responsibility of Rwanda”.

“I also welcome the U.S. sanction against Rwanda in relation to military cooperation with this country which supports the rebel movements on our territory”, he declared.

For its part, the M23 swears that it will never lay down its arms if Kinshasa does not agree to dialogue with it.

“We will not lay down our weapons if Kinshasa does not accept dialogue. We want a fair and equitable peace. We are fighting for democracy for all Congolese. There is not one category of Congolese to discriminate against”, reacted Major Willy Ngoma, military spokesperson for the M23.

situation on the ground

In the meantime, the situation remains tense on the ground.

According to the local civil society, the M23 is increasing awareness campaigns to convince the population to adhere to its cause and its ideology in the province of North Kivu in the east of the DRC where it still occupies areas despite the presence of soldiers from the EAC regional force.

At the same time, armed clashes took place between the rebel movement and local militias maintained by the Congolese authorities.

“This Wednesday, there was fighting in the villages of Muhongozi and Busumba. It is near the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru”, reports the local civil society which warns of a strengthening of the M23 in the territory of Masisi.

“Several men carrying baggage are said to be dumped in this part of the North Kivu province. They are deployed in several entities and are preparing major assaults against the positions of the various self-defense groups active in the area, or even against the Armed Forces of the DRC”, warns the civil society.

The M23 denies reports of strengthening its positions.

“We are not strengthening our positions anywhere. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for our withdrawal since December 2022. If we had wanted, we would have even arrived in Kinshasa. The important thing is “to see the Congolese population live in lasting peace and we advocate fair democracy”, responded Willy Ngoma, before considering that “those who make all this propaganda are the people who are hateful and who want to see the M23 fall”.

The M23 is a former Tutsi rebellion which took up arms again at the end of 2021, accusing the Congolese government of not having respected its commitments on the reintegration of its fighters. The Congolese authorities remain convinced that it benefits from the support of Rwanda, which the Rwandan government continues to deny, for its part charging the Congolese leaders to collaborate with the Rwandan FDLR genocidaires by providing them with uniforms, weapons and ammunition with the aim of “destabilizing the Rwandan territory”.