APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – M23 rebels operating in eastern DR Congo have accused Congolese government forces of violating a ceasefire brokered by regional leaders after ”deliberately targeting and killing civilians”.
In a statement obtained by APA on Wednesday, the M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka said the government coalition was taking advantage of the slow deployment of contingents of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in areas vacated by the rebels to commit repraisals against unarmed elements.
According to him, the M23 had withdrawn from “most of the areas under its control,” including Karuba, Mushaki, Kilorirwe, Kitchanga, Mweso, Kishishe, Bambo, Bunagana, Tchengerero, Kiwanja and Kinyandonyi.
Accounts from witnesses on Monday suggested that the M23 had withdrew its fighters from Kiwanja, in North Kivu province, allowing the Ugandan contingent of the regional force to take over.
The rebels began pulling out from occupied territories last December in compliance with the terms of the Luanda accord reached in the Angolan capital a month earlier.
Since its deployment, the regional force, made up of troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, occupies
positions relinquished by the rebels.
“We are witnessing troop deployment delays by the [regional force] in other areas vacated by the M23, including Kishishe, Bambu, Kibirizi, shasha, Kisharu, Busanza, Ngwenda, Mabenga, Tongo and Nyamilima, which leaves local communities at the mercy” of the government coalition which includes militias like the FDLR and Mai-Mai and mercenaries, Kanyuka claimed.
While these re-occupations are taking place, Kanyuka said, targeted killings and harassment of innocent civilians by the coalition forces are swiftly spreading in Mushaki, Kiroliwe, Mweso, Bambu, Busumba and Rugogwe.
“The DRC government must stop re-occupying areas vacated by M23, killing, harassing innocent civilians, and looting and destroying their property. It must disarm its militia forces, including FDLR and mercenaries, and immediately repatriate them to their countries of origin,” he said.
Since June last year, seven countries in the East African Community regional bloc have given the green light for the standing EAC regional force to deploy its troops to eastern DRC.
Kenya is currently leading the operation to pacify the troubled region, which is home to dozens of rebel groups.
CU/as/APA