M23 advances despite ceasefire

Since the early hours of Sunday, August 4, 2024, the ceasefire agreement reached in Luanda between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda has been in effect. But it is clear that the conflict continues and the M23 is still advancing.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024. The fishing enclave of Nyakakoma falls into the hands of rebels in Rutshuru, North Kivu province. M23According to local media reports, only a few exchanges of fire took place between the rebels and Congolese naval forces backed by the Vazalendo militants before the enclave, 48 kilometers from the eastern shore of Lake Edward. animal The area 28 km from Ishasha, which had been occupied by M23, also fell into the hands of the armed group.

The new occupation by the M23 has already led to the displacement of people for fear of being caught in the crossfire. “Some residents are crossing the lake in canoes. They are heading to Taliha, Kamandi, Mubana, Kisela, Lunyaseng,” a resident of Nyakakoma testified. Earlier added: “Some residents prefer to stay in the city. The Vazarendo is heading in the direction of the park, while the naval forces are crossing the lake. We who remain in the city are scared, we don’t know where the solution will come from. We prefer to just stay there.”

Authorities appeal for help

And among those who remain, there is a lot of worry. “It’s worrying because the long-awaited ceasefire is not being respected. We are really in trouble,” said one of them. Before making an appeal to the government: “That’s why we have been asking the government to intervene in this issue because we are really in trouble.” The appeals to the government are not just coming from the people. In a press release issued today, CENCO insisted on the need to strengthen national cohesion, which is essential to restore peace.

The bishops also invited the two signatories Cease-fire agreement Do everything possible to ensure that it is fully respected, thereby guaranteeing the safety and return of those displaced since the beginning of the conflict. This press release is therefore issued despite the fact that the entry into force of the ceasefire has not changed the initial situation so far. But is this blatant violation of the ceasefire surprising?

M23 has announced its colors

The ceasefire violations were not surprising. First, past experience has shown that ceasefires signed within the framework of the war in eastern DRC are generally difficult to respect. Then, just after the ceasefire was announced, M23 leaders came out to say they did not feel ” automatically” “The only way to peacefully resolve the current conflict is through direct political dialogue with the Kinshasa government, which can address the root causes of the recurring conflicts in the east. R & D Center “, they declared. Since then, the movement has continued its advance in eastern DRC as if the ceasefire agreement had not yet taken effect.

Ituri alert

If much of North Kivu is in fact already in the hands of the M23, then the neighboring Ituri province could become the next stop for the Rwandan-backed rebel group. The military authorities in Ituri have sounded the alarm. According to them, the M23 is planning to invade Ituri from Lake Albert, the natural border with Uganda. The one who sounded the alarm was a spokesman for the military governor of the province, Lieutenant Jules Ngongo: “The information we have indicates that the M23 movement has made contact with the Zairian militia led by Thomas Lubanga, the president of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), currently in hiding and a former prisoner of the International Criminal Court. They want to control the shores of Lake Albert and enter through Chomia and Kasseni. “

This is not the first time such an alert has been raised in Ituri province. Therefore, Lieutenant Ngongo called on the province’s residents to “dissociate themselves from the manipulators and strengthen cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, adding: “This would make it possible to prevent attempts to seize Ituri through the M23, which is not feasible”.