DRC: these conditions which undermine the announcement of the new M23 ceasefire

M23 rebels in eastern DRC.

© REUTERS - James Akena

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1 min

The M23 announced an immediate ceasefire this Tuesday, March 7 at 12 p.m., after negotiations that its leaders conducted directly with João Lourenço, mediator in this crisis which is eating away at relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

The Angolan president had received a mandate from the heads of state of the region on February 17, 2023 in Addis Ababa to discuss directly with the command of this movement supported by Kigali.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

Patient Ligodi

The M23 has not yet put away its weapons, a few hours

after the announcement of the entry into force of a ceasefire

on Tuesday, March 7.

If he promises not to carry out new offensives, he reserves, he says, the full right to defend himself if his positions are attacked.

Moreover, the fighting continued around the city of Saké, around Goma, again on Tuesday afternoon.

Apart from new displacements of civilian populations, several sources report wounded by bullets and explosives in the area.

This is not the first time that the M23 decrees a ceasefire which is not followed up.

More than anything else, at this stage, the movement expects the opening of a direct dialogue with the government.

A posture that does not help Kinshasa, which conditions any dialogue with this group, under United Nations sanctions, by the withdrawal of its fighters from all occupied areas.

Clearly, the M23 must first withdraw and regroup at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo, on the border between the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda, before hoping for a gesture from the government.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.

► To read also: "Direct contacts were made on February 28 with the M23", says Angolan President João Lourenço

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