M23 played its role by showing goodwill to abide by provisions of regional peace process as a revolutionary movement with a legitimate cause and a disciplined force. It is high time the DRC regime gets to the negotiations table with M23 to panel beat its demands and cease to treat it as a “terror group.”
Yesterday’s meeting of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) led by the Commander Major General Jeff Nyagah in Kibumba, a territory under control of M23 showed yet another face of the rebel movement which has long been mislabeled and treated as a ruthless terror group whose mission is none other than destabilizing DRC.
Of many reasons that pushed M23 to leave their families and pick up arms, there was a need to fight for survival and protection of all Congolese. The absence of peace, stability and inclusiveness of all citizens has given a leeway to the ongoing genocide against Congolese of ethnic Tutsis and such is a strong cause enough to call for change.
If M23 was reckless, brutal and terrorizing as it has been mislabeled, it could not have accepted to provide safety for EACRF members and space to conduct their meetings, even worse it could not have ensured the protection of FARDC senior officials whose soldiers have been violating rules of engagements and launched bloody attacks against their positions.
The Kibumba meeting is another testament that M23 is ready to adhere to all regional peace mechanisms’ recommendations that called for a ceasefire, disengagement and withdrawal from the seized territories of Eastern DRC. However, such cannot be done without the fulfillment of DRC obligations.
The Incompetent regime in Kinshasa spearheaded by President Tshisekedi should stop the genocide against Tutsi Congolese, arrest perpetrators and take them courts, FARDC should cease immediate coalition with genocidal forces like FDLR and other affiliated groups like Mai-Mai Nyatura, CODECO and others. Subsequently it should disarm and hold them to account.
In any case, in Kinshasa’s corridors of power M23 movement should be accorded space, time and listening they deserve in the face of arrogant and inconsiderate DRC government.