DRC: precarious calm in North Kivu as M23 rebels must withdraw

A FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) soldier during a security patrol around the Kiwanja airfield, near Rutshuru, 70 kilometers from the city of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the congo.

AFP - GUERCHOM NDEBO

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, calm has returned to the front, more than 24 hours after the ceasefire.

This truce had been decreed by several Heads of State of East and Central Africa in the middle of the week at the summit in Luanda.

The M23 rebels, who were not represented at this meeting, claim to have taken note of this decision.

Advertising

Read more

With our special correspondent in Bukavu,

Coralie Pierret

No major incident was reported for Saturday, November 26, but the calm is extremely precarious.

For several days, all eyes have been on the region of Bwiza, Bambo and Tongo, northwest of Goma, the regional capital, where several clashes between M23 rebels and loyalist forces have been reported.

Friday, November 25, the day of the ceasefire, " 

the population of Bwiza fled the fighting to the neighboring town of Kitchenga

 ", testified a resident who left the region.

This area, near the Virunga National Park, is strategic because it borders the Masisi territory.

Until now, most of the fighting, since the offensive launched by the M23 on October 20, has mainly taken place in Rutshuru territory.

The rebels control several customs posts there, including Bunagana and Kitagoma, on the border with Uganda.

They also occupied the agricultural and trading towns of Rutshuru and Kiwanja.

► To read also: DRC: the Congolese army bombs M23 positions in the territory of Nyiragongo

It is therefore unlikely that the rebels will withdraw from their positions on Sunday, November 27, as stipulated in the agreement signed by the heads of state of the region in Luanda last Wednesday.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

  • ground floor

  • M23