DR Congo Army Successfully Defends Walikale-Centre Against M23 Rebels
The DRC army, aided by Wazalendo forces, thwarted M23 rebels’ attempts to overtake Walikale-Centre, pushing them back to Mpofi. Despite a return to calm, the area is heavily militarized, with locals fleeing to nearby villages. EAC and SADC ministers met to adopt a roadmap for resolving the conflict, emphasizing dialogue and ceasefire protocols, while avoiding an explicit mention of Rwandan support for M23.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military, alongside its Wazalendo allies, successfully halted advances by M23 rebels and the Alliance Fleuve Congo toward the Walikale-Centre. The confrontation, which escalated recently, saw the rebels pushed back to Mpofi, approximately 52 kilometers from the center, on March 17. Following military reinforcements from Bunia in Ituri province, the DRC forces managed to prevent an imminent capture of Mutakato by the rebels. Despite restored calm on March 18, the area remains heavily militarized, with few civilians present in the streets.
In response to the conflict, many residents have fled to nearby villages along the national highway leading to Kisangani. Villages such as Losso, Mungele, Tingitingi, and Lubutu Mubi have been accommodating displaced persons from Walikale-Centre. Concurrently, on March 17, ministers from the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened in Harare, Zimbabwe to adopt a roadmap aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict without explicitly citing Rwandan involvement.
The roadmap outlines immediate and long-term measures, including the necessity for direct dialogue among conflicting parties, an unconditional ceasefire, and a cessation of hostilities to facilitate humanitarian access. It also emphasizes the need to reopen Goma and Kavumu airports to enable the safe evacuation of individuals from conflict zones. A joint SADC-EAC verification mechanism will oversee these efforts.
Furthermore, the roadmap proposes establishing a technical evaluation team composed of 12 to 16 experts from military and governmental backgrounds to assess security and humanitarian conditions in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Notably, while Rwanda’s support for M23 was not officially recognized in the communique, numerous United Nations reports indicate the Rwandan army’s active involvement in the conflict within DRC territories.
The eastern regions of the DRC have experienced instability for decades, compounded by complex post-genocide tensions following the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Accusations persist regarding Rwanda’s intentions towards DRC’s rich natural resources. Through the collective military response and diplomatic engagements, there is hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts affecting this volatile area.
In conclusion, the DRC military, supported by allied forces, has effectively subdued recent advances by M23 rebels in Walikale-Centre. While calm has been restored, the humanitarian situation remains dire, prompting displacements to surrounding villages. The EAC and SADC ministers have adopted a strategic roadmap aimed at addressing the conflict, entailing immediate measures for ceasefire and humanitarian access, despite the contentious backdrop of Rwanda’s alleged involvement. The path to stability in the eastern DRC continues to hinge on effective dialogue and comprehensive oversight mechanisms.
Original Source: humanglemedia.com
