The president of the March 23 Movement (M23), Mr. Bertrand Bisimwa, has cautioned against the deployment of Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) troops in North Kivu province by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) government. This move, intended to replace the current East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) peacekeeping troops, is viewed by Bisimwa as a misguided step.
He accuses President Félix Tshisekedi of intentionally avoiding dialogue with M23 rebels, emphasizing that the deployment of SADC troops would be counterproductive. Bisimwa criticizes the government’s false accusations against EACRF troops, stating their role is to create a buffer zone for dialogue.
Despite ongoing ethnic cleansing acts, he stresses that peace in Eastern DR Congo can only be achieved through dialogue addressing the root causes of the conflict. Warning against a military resolution, Bisimwa asserts that if the DR Congo government persists, M23 is prepared to counter militarily.
Currently, there is a ceasefire, with no gunfire reported in Rutshuru, Nyiragongo, and Masisi territories since Friday. In March 2022, M23 rebels launched a war against the government, with accusations of Rwandan support, which both Rwanda and M23 deny. The rebels claim to fight against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination in DR Congo’s leadership.
