The United States demands that the M23 complete its withdrawal from Uvira, at least 75 kilometers from the strategic city

MADRID, December 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States said the declaration of withdrawal of Congolese March 23 Movement (M23) militias from the strategic town of Uvira in the eastern province of South Kivu is insufficient and that the guerrillas must relocate at least 75 kilometers from the town.

During the debate before the Security Council to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in this African country, MONUSCO, the North American representative argued that the simple advance of the M23 on the city represents a violation of current agreements and once again accused Rwanda of financing the armed group and supporting its operations.

“The M23’s commitment to withdraw from Uvira, the city, is not enough. It must immediately withdraw at least 75 kilometers from Uvira and once again respect all the obligations assumed in the negotiations,” said the North American spokesperson.

Over the past 48 hours, the Congolese government has for its part cast doubt on the veracity of the M23’s withdrawal from the town of Uvira. First through the authorities of the South Kivu province whose spokesperson, Didier Kabi, speaks of a strategy of “concealment” to break international surveillance and prepare a new assault.

“The convoys of jeeps that we observed leaving the city were almost empty, carrying only drivers and a few other soldiers” and that the M23, in reality, is heading towards the Uvira plateaus to meet local armed groups precisely in Ninembwe, one of the territories, according to the militias, attacked this morning by the Congolese-Burundian coalition.

Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya also criticized the announcement of the withdrawal as a “distraction maneuver”, before insisting that the M23 declared itself outside of any type of negotiation, starting with the so-called “Washington agreement” which sealed a certain peace between the Congolese and Rwandan governments, the latter being accused of supporting the movement.

M23 COMPLAINTS THAT BURUNDI PREVENTS THE RETURN OF REFUGEES

At the same time, the M23, while ensuring that it respects the withdrawal process as promised, dedicated this Saturday a new criticism to the Burundian authorities, allies of the DRC army, whom it accuses of preventing the return of Congolese refugees to neighboring towns on the other side of the border, including Uvira itself.

“The numerous attempts by the Congolese to voluntarily return home, particularly to Uvira, Sangé, Luvungi, Kamanyola and surrounding areas, are currently hampered by the Burundian authorities,” lamented the political branch of the M23, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), in a press release published this Saturday.

“The AFC/M23 deplores that these women, children and men, driven by the sole hope of returning to their communities and rebuilding their lives, are denied the fundamental right to return home in safe, dignified and voluntary conditions,” adds the press release published on its X account.