DRC: M23 plans to withdraw from its positions in the East

A group of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Bunagana border post in Uganda, November 10, 2021 following a deadly fight between M23 rebels and DRC troops.

(Illustration) AFP - BADRU KATUMBA

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

DRC authorities want the ICC to open an investigation into what happened in Kishishe in the east of the country on Tuesday 29 November.

On Monday, the government put forward a very heavy toll of 272 dead.

The authorities accuse the M23 of attacking the inhabitants.

It is in this context that the M23 evokes for the first time the possibility of a withdrawal from its positions in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

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The M23 says it is "ready to begin a disengagement and withdraw", even if it was not represented at the mini-summit in Luanda two weeks ago.

The rebel movement continues to claim that it respects the ceasefire, even though the fighting has never really stopped in the far west of Rutshuru territory.

The M23 rebellion reiterates its demand for a direct dialogue with the Congolese government, to " 

 " and wishes a meeting with the regional force in East Africa .

This announcement comes in a context of strong pressure, for a few days, around the killing of Kishishe, for which the Congolese authorities point the finger at the M23, which rejects these accusations.

It also comes after the telephone conversation between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

As a reminder, during the mini-summit in Luanda, the participants demanded a ceasefire, then a gradual withdrawal of the M23 from its positions.

The rebel movement then replied that it was not concerned by this press release.

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