M23 rebels have announced that they would withdraw from the town of Walikale, which they seized earlier in the week, to support peace initiatives.
The M23 had earlier indicated that they would leave some forces in Walikale as they pushed towards Kinshasa. But ok March 22, the group's spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement they would instead withdraw to allow Qatar-led peace initiative a chance to thrive.
The move comes after the M23 pulled out of planned talks with the Congolese government, which had been scheduled as their first direct engagement.
These talks were cancelled due to EU sanctions imposed on M23 leaders and Rwandan officials.
In a statement, the M23-affiliated Congo River Alliance explained the decision to reposition forces from Walikale and surrounding areas.
The rebels cited the February ceasefire and the desire to support peace initiatives.
However, their announcement was met with skepticism from army officers, with some doubting that the withdrawal would occur as claimed.
A senior member of the alliance said the repositioning was meant to "give peace a chance" but declined to specify where M23 forces would retreat to.
The group also requested that Walikale and surrounding areas remain demilitarised, warning that if the Congolese army and its allies returned, it would signal a resumption of hostilities.
Congo’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, expressed cautious optimism, stating that the government would observe whether the withdrawal would happen and if the M23 would prioritise dialogue and peace.
Meanwhile, the M23's push in the region continues. Despite the announcement of the withdrawal, army officers report that M23 is advancing towards Mubi, a nearby town, after airstrikes on Walikale's airport and the cutting off of road access to M23's positions.
Walikale’s capture marked a significant advance for the M23, bringing them within 400km of Kisangani, Congo's fourth-largest city.
This advance is part of a broader offensive that has already seen the rebels overrun eastern Congo's two largest cities since January.
Efforts to resolve the conflict, which stems from tensions rooted in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the competition for mineral resources, have been repeatedly stymied by violations of ceasefires and a lack of direct dialogue.
DR Congo, the UN, and Western governments have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies, asserting that it has acted in self-defence.
M23 leader Corneille Naanga dismissed a joint call for an immediate ceasefire from both Congo and Rwanda, reiterating his demand for direct talks with Kinshasa as the only viable solution to the conflict.
Agencies/Reuters