Congo has announced that it will not request the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from its North Kivu province despite the presence of Rwandan forces and M23 rebels backed by Rwanda.
Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner cited the ongoing instability in the eastern region as the reason behind this decision, emphasizing that conditions were not suitable for a troop pullout.
A recent U.N. report highlighted that between 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan troops were actively involved in combat alongside the Congolese army while also overseeing rebel operations in the area.
In response to these developments, the Congolese army accused the M23 rebels of violating a humanitarian ceasefire that was announced under U.S. auspices.
President Felix Tshisekedi previously demanded the withdrawal of peacekeepers last September, criticizing their perceived reluctance to confront the rebels. Demonstrations targeting MONUSCO bases in eastern Congo resulted in several casualties, with dozens reported dead.
Earlier this year, peacekeepers completed the first phase of their withdrawal from South Kivu province in June, marking a significant shift in the regional security landscape.
The M23 rebels resumed their insurgency in 2022, seizing large swathes of territory in North Kivu from government control and causing the displacement of nearly one million people.
The rebels claim to be protecting ethnic Tutsi communities from potential genocide, an assertion that has been contested amidst ongoing conflict and humanitarian concerns.
Confirming the toll from a recent attack, a hospital source confirmed four individuals had lost their lives while an additional five were admitted with serious injuries.
