Kinshasa: The M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, has pulled out of the strategic town of Walikale in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a goodwill measure ahead of planned peace negotiations with the Congolese government next week.
Since January, M23 has launched a rapid offensive, seizing control of key cities in eastern Congo. The violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, raising fears of a broader regional conflict, particularly as Uganda and Burundi also have military forces in the area.
Sources from both sides confirmed that direct talks between M23 and the Congolese government are set to take place in Doha on April 9.
Walikale, a town situated along a crucial route connecting four eastern provinces, is in a mineral-rich area known for its tin reserves. The rebels had previously committed to leaving the town but delayed their withdrawal, citing concerns over the Congolese army’s continued use of attack drones.
Local sources, including two residents and a government official, confirmed that M23 had vacated Walikale. On Friday, Congolese army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge stated that government troops had moved in to secure the area.
Despite the withdrawal, M23 warned that it could reverse its decision if the Congolese government continued what it called "provocations" or attacks on civilians in rebel-controlled areas. "If the Kinshasa regime persists in its hostilities, we will be forced to neutralize the threat at its source," M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement on X.
Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict, stating that civilians and medical teams had been caught in the fighting in Walikale, and that medical supplies were running critically low.
The United Nations and Western nations accuse Rwanda of arming and supporting the Tutsi-led M23 rebellion. Rwanda, however, denies these allegations, insisting that its military actions are defensive and aimed at countering threats from Congolese forces and militia groups linked to the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.
