DRC president says M23 rebels yet to withdraw as agreed

In line with an settlement brokered by regional leaders, the rebels had been to withdraw from not too long ago seized positions.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi speaks throughout a joint information convention in Paris on Could 18, 2021 [File: Ludovic Marin/AFP]

The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, says the M23 insurgent group has not totally withdrawn from areas seized within the nation’s east, accusing the militia of faking an agreed pullback of its forces.

“Regardless of the worldwide strain, the group continues to be there,” Tshisekedi mentioned on Tuesday throughout a panel session on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland.

“They faux to maneuver, they act like they're transferring, however they’re not. They’re merely transferring round, redeploying elsewhere, they usually keep within the cities that they've captured,” he mentioned. His feedback had been probably the most outspoken from the Congolese authorities thus far on how they view the implementation of the peace deal.

Regional leaders brokered an settlement in November 2022 below which the Tutsi-led group was meant to withdraw from not too long ago seized positions by January 15 as a part of efforts to finish a battle that has displaced at the very least 450,000 individuals. It has additionally sparked a diplomatic disaster between DRC and neighbouring Rwanda.

“President Tshisekedi has solely this to say. It's the authorities that doesn't respect the ceasefire. It additionally continues to arm armed teams,” mentioned Lawrence Kanyaka, a spokesman for the M23.

Earlier in January, an inside United Nations intelligence report mentioned it was not attainable to verify the M23’s purported withdrawal from some areas attributable to continued indicators of troop motion, and its evaluation indicated the group had seized new territory elsewhere.

Tshisekedi once more accused Rwanda of fuelling the battle by supporting the rebels – an accusation levelled additionally by Western powers and UN consultants. Rwanda firmly denies this.

A number of civil society organisations have known as for an illustration on Wednesday within the provincial capital, Goma, to protest delays in implementing the M23 withdrawal, though metropolis authorities haven't authorised the march.