DRC soldiers flee to Uganda as M23 capture Congolese border town

At least 100 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo(FADRC), the Congolese national army have fled to Uganda following intense fighting with M23 rebels in the eastern part of the country.

“There are continued clashes between the M23 and FADRC forces and because of these clashes; we have had over 100 FADRC soldiers cross to the Ugandan side. They surrendered to the Ugandan side,” police spokesperson, Fred Enanga told journalists on Monday.

He however noted that arrangements are being made to ensure these Congolese government soldiers are escorted to Rutshuru territory.

According to Enanga, whereas the Congolese side borderline of Bunagana is currently under control of M23 rebels, the situation is still under control on the Ugandan side of the same borderline.

“We want to assure residents that our borderline is very secure with the joint forces of Police and UPDF on standby.”

M23 captures town

The development comes on the backdrop of continued fighting between the DRC army and M23 rebels.

By Monday, the rebel group had captured Bunagana town on the Congolese side.

This was confirmed by the M23 spokesperson Maj Willy Ngoma.

“The M23 movement directorate informs the national and international community that our troops have taken control of Bunagana City since this morning of Monday following clashes with FADRC, FDLR and local armed groups for several weeks now,” Ngoma said in a statement on Monday evening.

The rebel group said despite the capture of Bunagana, the local population that had fled to neighbouring Uganda is encouraged to return home , noting that the rebel group will also continue pursuing  a peaceful resolution to its demands.

They asked President Felix Tshisekedi to initiate peace talks.

Dire situation

The developments in Eastern DRC have led to a dire situation with over 30,000 Congolese locals fleeing to neighbouring Uganda for refugee.

Ugandan authorities and humanitarian bodies including Red Cross have in the past days struggled to contain the big number of Congolese refugees crossing into the countries following the clashes.

DRC government has blamed neighbouring Rwanda of supporting the renewed invasion by M23 rebels.

“The Rwandan Defense Forces have this time decided to violate our territorial integrity by occupying the border town of Bunagana. This is no less than invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” FADRC said in a statement on Monday.

In the same vein, Rwanda has on several occasions accused the DRC army of kidnapping two of its soldiers as well as shelling places inside Rwanda.

On Tuesday morning, Rwanda Defence Forces issued a statement commenting on the developments.

“Rwanda Defence Force would like to inform the general public that the defence and security of the Rwandan population, as well as Rwanda's territorial integrity is assured, and that the RDF will continue to seek guarantees that cross-border attacks on Rwanda's territory are stopped,” RDF said in a brief statement.

M23

Formed by former members of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) a Tutsi militia group  that  Rwanda and Uganda once supported, M23 was at its peak between 2012 and 2013.

Whereas in 2009 CNDP fighters were incorporated into the Congolese army following an agreement, in 2012, they rebelled over claims the agreement had not been respected by the Kinshasa government and renamed their group M23.

The group later captured several parts in North Kivu but were later defeated and driven out of the areas they had captured.

They later signed an agreement and were reintegrated into society but some of the fighters stayed in the bush.

However, after a 10 year lull, M23 in April this year resumed fighting, forcing thousands of Congolese to flee to neighbouring Uganda.

Negotiation between M23 rebels and the DRC government  stalled in April and this can partly be blamed for the tensions in Eastern DRC.

The rebel group blames the Kinshasa establishment of backtracking on an agreement signed a few years ago which among others would allow them be reintegrated into the Congolese army but also be allowed to contest for political positions.