M23 pushes deeper in east DRC, UN urges Rwanda forces to depart

The group, supported by some 4,000 Rwandan troopers, in response to UN consultants, now controls giant swaths of japanese Democratic Republic of Congo, a troubled area wealthy in pure assets.

Its fast advance has despatched 1000’s fleeing. Fighters took management of the South Kivu provincial capital Bukavu on Sunday, weeks after capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu and major metropolis within the nation’s east.

Friday’s unanimously adopted UN Safety Council decision “strongly condemns the continuing offensive and advances of the M23 in North-Kivu and South Kivu with the assist of the Rwanda Protection Forces.”

It additionally “calls on the Rwanda Protection Forces to stop assist to the M23 and instantly withdraw from DRC territory with out preconditions.”

The Safety Council had beforehand known as for an “fast and unconditional ceasefire” by all events, however on Friday all nations together with the three African members pointed the finger at Kigali.

Latest features have given M23 management of Lake Kivu following its lightning offensive within the east. In response to the UN, the newest combating has led to an exodus of greater than 50,000 Congolese to Burundi, Uganda and different nations.

The European Union on Friday summoned Rwanda’s ambassador to demand Kigali pull out troops from the nation and cease backing the armed group.

Because the fall of Bukavu, the Congolese armed forces have been retreating with out providing important resistance.

“Nearly no Congolese troopers are combating,” an observer mentioned Friday, including that the “solely ones nonetheless combating are the Wazalendo” pro-Kinshasa militia.

The North Kivu metropolis of Masisi and its environment “are the scene of virtually each day clashes” between the M23 and Wazalendo, medical charity MSF mentioned.

The M23 is now transferring towards the city of Uvira close to the Burundi border on the northwestern tip of Lake Tanganyika the primary exit route for fleeing Congolese troopers.

Round 42,000 folks have fled the battle, crossing into Burundi prior to now two weeks, the United Nations mentioned Friday.

A supply in Uvira’s municipality mentioned Friday the army commander had taken “measures to safe the inhabitants and their property, including that “undisciplined components had been arrested.”

Residents instructed AFP that Uvira was engulfed in chaos, with tons of of troopers and their households crossing the city on foot to succeed in the port.

No less than 423 inmates from Uvira jail have escaped and the bishop was robbed by armed males.

On the northern entrance, which has been comparatively secure since December, M23 fighters are simply 9 miles from Lubero, a strategic city.

Some Congolese troopers have fled Lubero, however others have been seen looting retailers, in response to native sources.

“The Congolese troopers we met alongside the way in which robbed us of our telephones, cash and different belongings,” mentioned Aline Nyota, a displaced one who left Lubero to go additional north.

“In the event you hesitate, they shoot.”

The Congolese military spokesman within the area urged fleeing troopers to return “to their authorities” and to “keep away from looting, extortion and rape.”

Merchants in central Lubero have eliminated their items and colleges are closed. A relative calm returned on Thursday night with the intervention of Ugandan troops deployed within the area as a part of a joint operation with the Congolese military.

Analysts have questioned how the Ugandan military would react if it have been to come across M23 fighters.

Kampala is accused by UN consultants of sustaining relations with the M23, whereas in search of to guard its affect within the space.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday denied his troops supposed to battle the M23.

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