The M23 rebels have announced their readiness to withdraw and hand over five positions in Masisi territory, North Kivu province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
In his statement issued on Saturday afternoon, Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23 police spokesperson, said they are set to withdraw from Karuba, Muremure, Nyamitima, Nkingo-Kagano, Kihuli, and neighboring areas and hand them over to the East African Community regional force.
The rebels captured these areas on Tuesday evening following fierce fighting with Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo-FARDC troops and their militia coalition. The fighting happened at a time when M23 had announced a cease-fire declaration to pave way for dialogue. During the fighting, both parties accused each other of violating the cease-fire.
In its statement, M23 invites the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) officials to also show up to witness the takeover of the EAC regional force into the positions.
“The M23 is grateful to regional leaders and international partners for their relentless efforts to find peace in eastern DRC. Our organization aligns itself with the recommendations of the various summits of heads of state and is ready to do more in the name of peace. The M23 has declared a ceasefire as regional leaders and international partners have recommended March 7, 2023, at noon. It has honored its commitment, despite the umpteenth violation of the Ceasefire by the governmental Coalition of the DRC,” reads the statement.
Both EAC regional Force and DR Congo government are yet to comment on M23’s statement. Once this is effected, the areas will be added on Rumangabo and Kibumba where M23 has officially withdrawn and handed over to EAC regional force. Meantime, fierce fighting between the belligerents continued on Saturday in Mushaki, Kingi, and Malehe, about three kilometers from the town of Sake.
In his statement on Twitter, Bertrand Bisimwa, the M23 president accused FARDC and its militia coalition of using tanks and other artillery to launch an assault on M23 positions.
“On 11 March 2023, the coalition resumed attacks against M23 positions and villages in Mushaki, Kingi, and Malehe using tanks and other artillery. This is a clear provocation yet again,” reads the statement. FARDC has not yet responded to the accusations.
Fighting between M23 rebels and FARDC soldiers that started in March 2022 has left many parts of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo territories including Uganda-DR Congo in the hands of the rebels. DR Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, a claim both Rwanda and the rebels strongly deny. Rebels claim to fight against bad leadership in DR Congo based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination among other messes.
