8 months ago
M23 Rebels Agree to Withdraw from Uvira
There is a group called M23 that is fighting in a place called eastern Congo.
They recently captured hundreds of soldiers from a nearby country called Burundi.
The United States and other countries have been trying to make peace in the area, but the fighting continues.
The M23 group wants the Burundian soldiers to go home and says they will keep fighting to stop what they say are bad things being done to people.
Many people have been hurt or had to leave their homes because of the fighting.
There are also important minerals in the area that the world needs, like cobalt.
A group that helps people, called Doctors Without Borders, had to stop working in one area because it is not safe.
The U.S. asked M23 to leave a town called Uvira, and they agreed to do so as a way to build trust and support peace talks.
M23 rebels agreed to withdraw from Uvira at the request of the U.S. administration.
The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Rwanda's actions as violating the Washington Accords.
M23's withdrawal is seen as a 'unilateral trust-building measure' to support the Doha peace process.
Congolese forces remain intent on regaining control of Uvira, despite M23's withdrawal.
Hundreds of Uvira residents participated in a march to thank M23 for driving out Congolese and allied forces.
- Who
- M23 rebels, Burundian soldiers, Congolese and Rwandan governments, U.S. administration
- What
- M23 rebels agree to withdraw from Uvira at U.S. request
- Where
- Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, near the border with Burundi
- When
- Recent events, with specific actions on Saturday and Tuesday
- Why
- To comply with U.S. requests and support the Doha peace process
Key facts
- M23 Group
- Rwanda-backed rebel group operating in eastern Congo
- Washington Accords
- Peace deal affirmed by Congo, Rwanda, and U.S. presidents
- Captured Soldiers
- Hundreds of Burundian soldiers captured by M23
- Uvira
- Strategic town in eastern Congo near Burundi border
- Mining Resources
- Congo supplies 70% of the world's cobalt
- Humanitarian Impact
- Thousands killed, hundreds of thousands displaced
- Medecins Sans Frontieres
- Suspended activities in Baraka due to escalating violence
Quotes
Marco Rubio
US Secretary of State
“Rwanda's actions in eastern Congo violated the Washington Accords and vowed to 'take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept.'”
telegraphindia.com
Corneille Nangaa
Leader of the Congo River Alliance of insurgents that includes M23
“The move was a 'unilateral trust-building measure in order to give the Doha peace process the maximum chance to succeed.'”
telegraphindia.com
General Sylvain Ekenge
Spokesperson for Congo's army
“Uvira is a city in the DRC. We will do everything in our power to reclaim the city and secure it.”
telegraphindia.com
Freddy Mutupeke
Organiser of the march in Uvira
“The motivation that drove us to organise this march today is that we are liberated after facing enormous harassment and trauma from the horrors of war. Today, we are liberated by the revolutionary army.”
telegraphindia.com
