M23 Declares Ceasefire; DRC Rejects Move, Vows Expanded Offensive
The DRC government restricted social media access on Saturday, citing technical issues.
GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo—The M23 rebel group declared a unilateral ceasefire Tuesday, citing humanitarian concerns, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government dismissed the gesture as a “lie” and vowed to intensify military operations to reclaim occupied territories, writes AfricaBrief Reporter.
M23, which controls areas near South Kivu’s Nyabibwe region, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Kavumu, said it has no plans to seize Bukavu, the provincial capital, but pledged to defend its positions.
DRC Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya rejected the ceasefire, calling it a diversion tactic, and confirmed plans for a full-scale offensive against the rebels.
The Congolese army (FARDC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, including South African troops, remain stationed at Goma’s damaged international airport, blocking its reopening.
U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Bruno Lemarquis urged immediate access, calling the airport a “lifeline” for evacuating casualties and delivering aid.
Humanitarian Crisis:
Over 120,000 displaced people have fled clashes since January, though M23 claims thousands are returning home voluntarily to areas under its control.
Humanitarian groups allege coercion, accusing the rebels of forcing evacuations from camps like Kanyaruchinya. M23 denies this, accusing aid groups of exploiting displaced persons as “cash cows.”
International Response:
China’s U.N. envoy called for Security Council action to enforce a ceasefire, rebel withdrawal, and Rwanda-DRC dialogue.
Rwanda, accused of backing M23, denied involvement and urged neutralization of the Kinshasa-aligned Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a U.N.-designated terrorist group.
Regional Diplomacy:
Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC will attend a joint East African Community-SADC summit in Tanzania this week.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe outlined prerequisites for peace, including FDLR disarmament and direct DRC-M23 talks.
Social Media Crackdown:
The DRC government restricted social media access on Saturday, citing technical issues.
Activist group La Lucha accused authorities of silencing dissent amid escalating tensions.