M23 Rebel Group Withdraws From Captured Rumangabo Military Base In DRC

The M23 rebel group on Friday handed over the Rumangabo army base located in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Rutshuru territory to east African regional forces, reported The Africa News. The rebels had seized the military base at the end of October.

The handover took place in a ceremony in the presence of officials from the command of the EAC regional force, the joint verification mechanisms of the Great Lakes region and the authorities of the M23 rebellion.

During the brief ceremony, a rebel representative said the gesture symbolizes the group’s commitment to peace. Last November, a summit held in the Angolan capital ordered the rebels to vacate all Congolese territory under their control.

In December, the rebels announced withdrawal from another strategic town of Kibumba. But, the DRC military has called the withdrawal a sham and said that the rebels are reinforcing their positions elsewhere.

 “We want peace, we will work for peace,” M23 leader Imani Nzenze said at Friday’s ceremony. “The M23 has decided to officially hand over the Rumangabo military camp to the regional force.”

The Tutsi-led rebel group launched a fresh offensive in the eastern region of the DRC this year that displaced at least 450,000 people, despite army push-backs and regional efforts to resolve the conflict.

The United States (US), Belgium, France as well as United Nations experts also agree the accusation that Rwanda is supporting the M23.

Kigali, however, continues to deny the charge, and accuses the DRC government of backing the FDLR – a descendant of Rwandan Hutu extremist groups that carried out the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda.

The accusations stirred diplomatic tensions between the neighbouring countries that have complicated peace negotiations.

In November, regional leaders decided on an agreement between warring parties to see the withdrawal of the M23 rebels from recently seized positions and allow displaced people to return to their homes.