DR Congo Army Successfully Halts M23 Rebel Advances and Initiates Peace Roadmap
The DR Congo army, with allied forces, successfully countered M23 rebels’ advances towards Walikale-Centre, restoring calm in the area. Concurrently, EAC and SADC ministers adopted a roadmap to address the conflict without citing Rwandan involvement. The plan outlines measures for humanitarian access and ceasefire oversight to stabilize the eastern DR Congo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo army, in conjunction with its allies, effectively neutralized the advance of M23 rebels and the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) towards Walikale-Centre on March 17, redistributing them to Mpofi, approximately 52 kilometers away. Military reinforcements from Bunia in Ituri province significantly contributed to this success. The rebels had attempted to capture Mutakato prior to their setback, but calm was restored by March 18, albeit with a heavy military presence limiting civilian movement.
Subsequently, numerous residents began relocating to villages along the national highway leading to Kisangani, such as Losso, Mungele, and Lubutu Mubi, among others. In a parallel development, ministers from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened in Harare on March 17 to endorse a plan designed to address the conflict in Eastern DR Congo, notably without accountability for Rwandan involvement in supporting M23.
The consortium crafted a roadmap detailing immediate and long-term measures to foster peace in the region afflicted by the M23 insurgency, which has been allegedly supported by Rwanda. Key stipulations within the roadmap include the initiation of direct military dialogues, an unconditional ceasefire, cessation of hostilities, and facilitating humanitarian access, including the reopening of Goma and Kavumu airports.
Further processes aim to establish a joint SADC-EAC verification framework to oversee the cessation of hostilities and the ceasefire implementation. It was suggested that the international conference on the Great Lakes Region explore strengthening the mechanism with additional personnel to observe the humanitarian context and cessation policies. Additionally, a specialized technical evaluation team consisting of experts in various military and civil sectors is to be formed to assess security conditions and critical infrastructures within the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Despite the omission of Rwanda’s named support from the communique, reports by the United Nations indicate ongoing Rwandan military involvement in the region, exacerbating tensions fueled by historical conflicts, especially following the Rwandan genocide of 1994, when the Democratic Republic of Congo accused Rwanda of coveting its resources. The eastern DR Congo has witnessed ceaseless unrest, complicated by intricate regional relations, especially involving the role of Rwanda.
In summary, the Democratic Republic of Congo army, aided by allies, effectively halted the M23 rebels’ advances, restoring a semblance of calm in the region while civilian movements remain restricted. Concurrently, a roadmap developed by the EAC and SADC aims to address underlying conflicts without directly implicating Rwanda. This comprehensive strategy includes dialogue initiation, humanitarian access, and verification mechanisms to foster peace and stability in the affected provinces, amidst ongoing historical tensions.
Original Source: humanglemedia.com
