The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have dismissed allegations by the M23 rebel group that government troops violated the ceasefire, accusing the rebels instead of prolonging the war and targeting civilians in territories under their control.
In a video statement released late Wednesday, Major General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese army, said the M23’s claims of ceasefire violations were “contradictory” and intended to provide “a pretext for renewed hostilities.“These statements clearly demonstrate M23’s determination to sabotage the Washington peace framework and the Doha negotiations,” Gen. Ekenge said, referring to the peace agreements signed earlier this year between Kinshasa, Kigali, and M23 representatives.
He added that the Congolese army’s priority remains the restoration of national sovereignty across all occupied territories.
Earlier this week, M23 issued a statement accusing FARDC of launching large-scale offensives using heavy artillery and combat drones in densely populated areas, including Kibati in Walikale, Bibwe and Nyabiondo in Masisi, and Bukombo in Rutshuru, all in North Kivu Province. The group vowed to defend civilians “by all necessary means.”
The M23 insurgency, which reignited in late 2021 after nearly a decade of dormancy, currently controls vast territories in North and South Kivu, including strategic routes near Goma and Bukavu the provincial capitals of both regions.
Mutual Accusations and Regional Tensions
FARDC’s counterstatement comes as both sides exchange blame over repeated breaches of the ceasefire. The United Nations and independent security observers have documented escalating clashes across the region since mid-October.
A recent report by the Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute indicated that FARDC carried out drone strikes against M23 positions in Masisi on October 23 and 28, and at a major gold mine in Mwenga, South Kivu. The same report noted fierce battles between M23 and pro-government militias known as Wazalendo, suggesting the rebels are advancing westward.
Both governments of Rwanda and Congo face mutual accusations of supporting hostile militias. UN experts allege that Rwanda provides logistical and military support to M23 a claim Kigali firmly denies, insisting its actions are purely defensive. Conversely, Kinshasa is accused of collaborating with the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu rebel group operating in eastern DRC, though Congolese authorities maintain that any soldier found cooperating with FDLR will be prosecuted.
Paris Peace Talks
The latest escalation coincides with a regional security conference in Paris, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron in partnership with Togo, which currently mediates on behalf of the African Union.
The meeting held largely behind closed doors was confirmed to include President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo. French officials said Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye, and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni were invited, though reports by RFI indicated they were unlikely to attend.
Representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and Massad Boulos, U.S. Special Envoy for Africa, are also attending the discussions.
As diplomatic efforts intensify in Paris, fighting continues to displace thousands across eastern Congo, highlighting the fragility of ongoing peace initiatives in the Great Lakes region.
Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA
