No credible evidence that M23 is withdrawing from DRC border city, says US
The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group promised to withdraw from the strategic eastern Congolese town of Uvira earlier this week. But the United States said on Wednesday it sees no "credible evidence" that process is taking place, and once again called on Rwanda to end its support for the group.
Corneille Nangaa, head of M23’s political wing, said overnight on Monday that the group would unilaterally pull out of Uvira at the request of a US mediator. He did not specify a timeline. Nangaa said any withdrawal would depend on three conditions: the demilitarisation of the town, protection for the civilian population and monitoring of the ceasefire by a neutral force.
But on Wednesday, a US State Department spokesperson said the US has seen no evidence this is actually happening. This is backed up by Uvira residents, who told Reuters on Wednesday that M23 fighters remain visible in the town. "They are everywhere," one resident said. "Nothing has changed since the M23's last statement on its withdrawal from the city," another witness said.
Washington again urged Kigali to end its support for M23 and to withdraw from eastern Congo, "as stipulated in the Washington accords". That peace agreement, intended to help stabilise the region after decades of conflict, was signed less than two weeks ago by Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan president Paul Kagame, in the presence of US president Donald Trump.
"The United States remains deeply concerned about the violence currently raging in eastern Congo, causing people to flee and countless families to suffer," the US spokesperson said.
M23 seized Uvira about a week ago, giving the group control over the entire land border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its ally Burundi. Despite repeated findings in UN reports, Rwanda continues to deny backing the M23. However, after the fall of Uvira, Washington has on several occasions publicly blamed the government of president Kagame for the rebel advance.
PHOTO © Jospin Mwisha / AFP
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