DRC (North Kivu): the M23 returns to old positions

The March 23 Movement (M23) has recaptured localities that it had ceded as part of the ceasefire demanded by the Heads of State of the East African Community since December 2022. The North Kivu Provincial Security Committee this Tuesday deplored”the growing insecurity, the infiltrations of alleged spies of the M23 rebels and the redeployment of rebels in their former positions around the city of Goma”. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

These security incidents were discussed during the first extraordinary meeting of the Provincial Security Council, on Tuesday in Goma, and was chaired by the new interim military governor, Major General Peter Chirimwami.

In a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Guillaume Ndjike, this committee calls on the army and security services to be vigilant and to remain on maximum alert.

“The Provincial Security Committee noted that after the declaration of the President of the Republic, at the United Nations, stating the refusal to dialogue with the M23, the latter are illustrated by a lot of agitation. And they begin to reoccupy all the positions once abandoned. It was also noted, at the Congolese border, several crossings of Rwandan citizens, possessing Congolese voter cards, and suspected of espionage, sent by Rwanda,” we read in this declaration.

And added: ”to do this, the provincial authority reiterated its wish to see all services remain vigilant to avoid, on the one hand, an infiltration of the enemy between our lines, and on the other hand, a internal enemy surprise.

Among the entities taken over, our source cites in particular: the hills of Kibarizo, Kabalekasha, Kirumbu Bukombo, Rugogwe, Busumba and Burungu in Masisi territory, the hill of Ruhunda in Kibumba in Nyiragongo territory, which positions were supposed to remain in the hands of the EAC Regional Force.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo consider this act as yet another provocation and call on the national and international community, the community of East African States, the expanded joint verification mechanism as well as the verification mechanism of the ICGLR (International Conference on the Great Lakes Region) to draw all the necessary conclusions.

The Congolese army claims to be ready and determined to deal with any eventuality.

Confirmation of civil society and denial of M23

“Several men carrying baggage would be taken 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 local 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”, reacted Major Willy Ngoma, military spokesperson for the rebellion 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 Rwandan territory”.