In eastern Congo, the M23 retreats
(BRUSSELS2) (UPDATE) As the United Nations sought a political solution in North Kivu, fighting resumed again in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They oppose the rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23), supported by Rwanda, to the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) supported by the UN intervention force (MONUSCO).
The M23 retreats
Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Kibumba... the strongholds of the M23 rebels are falling one after the other. The rebel movement lost the strongholds they had held for at least a year and a half. His fighters are retreating, still further north and would be no more than a thousand. They now control only a few hundred square kilometers near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda, two countries regularly accused of arming and financing them. As the head of the UN Mission in the Congo, Martin Kobler, comments, they are " almost militarily finished ". But Kinshasa does not seem to have the intention to stop in such a good way and wishes to put an end to the rebels.
Monusco's support
The Congolese army offensive initiated on October 25 counted on the support of the UN intervention brigade - which had come a week earlier to support the Monusco intervention brigade. For the French ambassador to the UN, Gérard Arault, "The attack led by the FARDC with the support of MONUSCO was a success". Monusco would not have participated directly in the fighting. According to our colleagues at AFP, it would have provided government troops with decisive support in terms of logistics, intelligence, observation and planning. A Tanzanian blue helmet was nevertheless killed this Sunday, October 27, in Kiwanja in North Kivu (the third in a few months). He was in one of the helicopters of the Monusco intervention brigade. Officially, “this soldier died while protecting the civilian population”. Three other peacekeepers were injured.
Congo intends to push its advantage, not without risks
The M23 on Sunday demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and threatened to withdraw its delegates from the peace talks. Buoyed by the military advance, Congolese Defense Minister Alexandre Luba Ntambo turned a deaf ear and called on the M23 rebels to surrender, saying the Congolese army would stop at nothing to defend the national territory.
Military success does not mean peace
The experts are sounding the alarm. Thierry Vircoulon of the Interlational Crisis Group told RFI " the M23 can still reverse the balance of power”. The threat of a counter-offensive has already been launched. For the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the DRC, Martin Kobler. " Military success does not solve all the problems: the M23 is still in the country. It is therefore time to complement the victory on the front with a political solution,” he warns. Monusco will probably continue to support the Congolese forces, but the UN wants a return to the negotiating table in Kampala, which is currently at a standstill.
Condemnation by the international community
The M23 movement remains banned from the international community. The members of the UN Security Council on Monday (28 October) condemned the attacks by the M23 rebels against the UN peacekeeping mission and against civilians (read here).