AFRICA/DR CONGO - North Kivu: truce breached, but negotiations continue with Angolan mediation

Kinshasa (Fides News Agency) - Violations have been reported in the ceasefire in North Kivu (in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo), which took effect on August 4 (see Fides 8/8/2024). The agreement negotiated by Angola provides for a ceasefire between - on the one hand, the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and its allied local militias, and on the other, the M23 guerrilla group, supported by the Rwandan army.
On August 20, after clashes with the Wazalendo militiamen (FARDC allies) in the territory of Lubero, M23 took control of several villages and towns. The following day, fighting was reported in other locations in the northeastern DRC province.
In addition, according to local civil society, M23 and the Rwandan army took advantage of the relevant truce to strengthen their positions in the territory of Rutshuru, bringing new weapons and reinforcements to the area. All in view of resuming hostilities.
On the other hand, on August 15, the administrator of the Lubero territory, Colonel Alain Kiwewa, launched an appeal to the armed groups present in the area to join the FARDC to counter the advance of M23. The appeal was addressed above all to armed groups, other than M23, which continue to clash with regular armed forces. In North Kivu there are several dozen armed groups, large and small, some allied with the FARDC or M23, others acting as "free electrons" in a mosaic of perpetually changing clashes and alliances. In this regard, over the past few days, the Nande and Hutu communities - which have been warring for years - have signed an agreement in which they pledge mutual forgiveness. A sign of hope in a province that has been marked by violence and instability for over 30 years
The brunt is borne by the civilian population, whose sufferings were evoked by Pope Francis at the General Audience on Wednesday August 21 (see Fides 21/8/2024). There are also fears that M23 may march on Goma, the capital of North Kivu, where more than 2 million people - including inhabitants and internally displaced people - live in precarious conditions. The fact that the situation is serious is illustrated by the fact that, on August 20, the urban authorities in Goma ordered systematic controls of vehicles on the city's main arteries, in response to concerns about the possible infiltration of armed men.
Angolan President João Lourenço, appointed by the African Union to mediate between the Congolese authorities, M23 and the Rwandan government, said he was confident an agreement would be reached. Lourenço, travelled to Kigali and Kinshasa on the 11th and 12th of August to present a peace agreement proposal to Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi. On August 21, the Angolan President announced the recommencement of "negotiations on a concrete proposal for a lasting and definitive peace agreement for the conflict in the east of the DRC" in Luanda. (L.M.) (Fides News Agency 23/8/2024)

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