fbpx
Wikipedia

M23 rebellion

January 24, 2023

See also: M23 offensive (2022)

The M23 rebellion was an armed conflict in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that occurred between the March 23 Movement and government forces. The rebellion was part of continued fighting in the region after the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2003. It broke out in 2012 and continued into 2013, when a peace agreement was made among eleven African nations, and the M23 troops surrendered in Uganda.

M23 rebellion
Part of the Kivu conflict

UN forces and refugees in Goma during the rebellion
Date4 April 2012 (2012-04-04) – 7 November 2013 (2013-11-07)
(1 year, 7 months and 3 days)
Location
North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Result

Congolese government victory

  • M23 disarms and demobilises[5]
Belligerents

 Democratic Republic of the Congo
MONUSCO

March 23 Movement
Alleged support:

Commanders and leaders
Joseph Kabila
Lucien Bahuma[6]
Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz[6]
Bansi Ponnappa
James Aloizi Mwakibolwa[6]		 Bertrand Bisimwa
Sultani Makenga (POW)[7]
Bosco Ntaganda (POW)[8][9][10]
Strength
1,345[1]
1,247[2]		 6,000 men (2012)[11]
Casualties and losses

200 killed[12]
3 killed[12]

 962 killed[12]
Civilian casualties: 283+ killed[12]
140,000 displaced.[15]

In April 2012, former National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) soldiers mutinied against the DRC government and the peacekeeping contingent of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Mutineers formed a rebel group called the March 23 Movement (M23), also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army. It was composed of former members of the rebel CNDP, and allegedly sponsored by the government of the neighbouring states of Rwanda and Uganda.

On 20 November 2012, M23 rebels took control of Goma, a North Kivu provincial capital with a population of one million people.[16] By the end of November that year, the conflict had forced more than 140,000 people to flee their homes, according to the U.N. refugee agency, in addition to the refugees already forced from their homes by previous rounds of fighting in the region.[17] After repelling an ill-organized government counterattack and making some further gains, M23 agreed to withdraw from Goma on their own and left the city in early December.

On 24 February 2013, eleven African nations signed an agreement designed to bring peace to the region. In October 2013, Congo told the UN that the M23 movement was virtually finished after being pushed back to a small area near Rwanda. On 7 November 2013, following significant defeats to a UN-backed government offensive, M23 troops crossed into Uganda and surrendered.

Background

 
The Province of North Kivu (Nord-Kivu) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
See also: Kivu conflict and March 23 Movement

In March 2009, National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) rebels signed a peace treaty with the government, in which it agreed to become a political party in exchange for the release of its imprisoned members.[18]

On 4 April 2012, it was reported that Bosco Ntaganda and 300 loyal troops defected from the DRC and clashed with government forces in the Rutshuru region north of Goma.[19] According to M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarma, the defection was due to Joseph Kabila's cheating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, 2011.[20]

The conflict

Beginning of hostilities

Jason Stearns reported on 4 May 2012 that Colonel Sultani Makenga had joined the M23. Stearns commented that this "is a significant development, since Makenga was the second highest ranking CNDP officer behind Ntaganda in the Amani Leo structure as the deputy commander of South Kivu."[21]

On 6 July 2012, M23 attacked and took the town of Bunagana less than a kilometer from the border with Uganda. Some 600 DRC troops fled across the border and took refuge in Uganda. The rebels issued a statement that they would cease their offensive if the government agreed to holding peace talks with them. The United Nations condemned rebel attacks in the region after an Indian peacekeeper was killed in the fighting.[22]

On 8 July, the rebels captured Rutshuru, 70 kilometers north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. By 10 July, they were 40 kilometers from the city of Goma. Witnesses said rebels appeared to be taking towns and villages with ease, with government troops usually melting away.[23] The towns of Rubare and Ntamugenga had also reportedly fallen to the rebels.[24]

On 20 July, M23 and government forces exchanged heavy weapons fire around Kibumba and Rugari, forcing thousands of civilians to flee towards Goma. UN helicopter gunships were seen headed towards the front line. The security situation in eastern Congo was described as rapidly becoming worse.[25]

November M23 offensive

Fighting broke out again in November 2012, with reports of heavy gunfire and explosions near Goma. Both sides blamed the other for the outbreak of hostilities. Government forces claimed M23 rebels suffered 110 dead, a claim the rebels denied. Government forces reportedly used tanks and helicopters in the fighting, which saw rebels advance closer to Goma nevertheless.[26]

On 15 November, MONUSCO helicopter gunships were deployed to support government forces as they fought to hold off a rebel attack south of Kibumba, flying 17 sorties and firing more than 500 rockets and missiles. The combined army and UN assault killed approximately 64 M23 fighters.[27] However, the rebels resumed their offensive the next day and in larger numbers; their advance put them within 18 miles of Goma. The army retreated under heavy fire to the southern outskirts of Kibumba after being forced back by the rebels, according to the provincial governor. The government army began to regroup around the nearby town of Kilimanyoka after the retreat. Later rebels claimed to have seized control of Kibumba but said they had no plans on attacking Goma.[28] A UN spokesman told that the M23 appeared to be well equipped with night vision equipment and 120mm mortars.[29]

On 18 November, it was reported that Congolese troops and the administration were leaving Goma in a hurry as M23 was at the gates of the city. The North Kivu governor left on a boat en route to South Kivu. The United Nations troops did not react when the rebels bypassed their camp on the road to Goma.[30] The following day, M23 demanded that the Congolese government open peace talks, or face an escalation of fighting.[31]

Taking of Goma

 
M23 rebels in Goma

M23 forces began an assault against army positions in Goma on 19 November, sending mortar shells and machine gun fire into the city which was still being defended by the government army. M23 spokesman Lt. Col. Vianney Kazarma said "Fighting is already taking place on the streets of Goma this morning." The DRC government spokesman confirmed the claim saying, "We have yet to stop this attack; they have not taken Goma yet." Congolese army units were reported to be holding defensive positions in the city centre and the airport armed with tanks and machine guns.

M23 forces entered the city proper on 20 November, advancing on foot up the main road towards the city centre. Heavy bursts of small arms fire could be heard in the city and near the airport. M23 was reported to have captured the Goma International Airport.[32] Though other reports claimed that UN forces retained control of the airport, with Lt. Gen. Chander Prakash, commander of UN forces in the area claiming that M23 attacked the peacekeepers but were repelled.[32]

 
A South African peacekeeper from the MONUSCO force, pictured in 2013

M23 forces moved in two columns past Sake, eventually capturing most of Goma as well as a nearby border post with Rwanda. Some government soldiers took off their uniforms before fleeing the city.[33]

By late morning, Congolese government troops had been forced back to the west of the city, with many abandoning their positions and withdrawing westwards from Goma entirely. Rebels marched into the centre without a shot being fired as the government army fled and UN peacekeepers stood down.[34]

Local police surrendered their posts and weapons without resistance. M23 made a statement later on announcing: "The town of Goma fell at 11:33 local time, despite the attack helicopters, despite the heavy weapons, the FARDC [national army] has let the town fall into our hands."[35]

Reuters reports on the scene confirmed that heavily armed M23 soldiers were present and walking through the city unchallenged, and that the UN peacekeepers present were not resisting the M23 advance through the city. Some residents came onto the streets to greet the rebel takeover.[36] After guards of the local prison fled Goma, along with the national army, more than a thousand criminal prisoners escaped through a hole in the prison wall. The rebels ordered civil servants back to work, warning they will not tolerate corruption, and allowed the UN troops to continue to patrol the streets.[37]

DR Congo president Joseph Kabila urged the city's people to "resist" the group's takeover.[38] UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said peacekeepers "cannot substitute" for the national army, adding that the 1,500 UN troops in Goma held their fire because they did not want to risk civilian lives.[32] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized M23 for alleged human rights violations during the takeover, including destruction of property, "intimidation of journalists", and the abduction of women and children.[39] Noting that the First Congo War had begun with fighting in the same region, the New York Times described Goma's takeover as "raising serious questions about the stability of Congo as a whole."[40]

Continued fighting

Almost 3,000[41] members of the Congolese army and police forces switched sides in Goma on 20 November and joined the rebellion as M23 continued its advance, seizing control of the town of Sake and stating that it intends to overthrow the national government. M23 forces began advancing towards the town of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu state on 21 November.[41] They announced their next intended target after Bukavu as the city of Kisangani, the capital of Orientale Province.[42]

Government forces, despite having withdrawn from Sake, launched a counterattack to retake the city on 22 November leading to heavy clashes with M23 forces there.[43] The surprise counterattack was badly beaten by the rebels.

Thousands of hungry and demoralized government soldiers fled back in disarray to the town of Minova, around 50 km from Goma. They got drunk and reportedly began raping, looting and threatening civilians; the allegations were confirmed by an UN source for The Guardian, which described them as "angry and paranoid", and contrasted their appearance to the apparent discipline in the rebel ranks.[44] The troops continued raping local civilian women and girls in a systematic way for three days, resulting in international outrage.

The "UN condemned the atrocity as "horrifying" in its scale and systematic nature."[45] The American Bar Association's office in Goma has identified 1,014 victims, but the UN had a final list of about 126. The DRC Army prosecuted officers in 2014 in what was called the Minova Trial, the largest rape trial in DRC history. Only a few junior officers were convicted. There has been insufficient financial support for the women who were victimized, and insufficient protection for them in the years since.[45]

Peace negotiations and M23 withdrawal

 
MONUSCO troops around Goma, 2012

According to the chief of Uganda People's Defence Force, M23 leader met with him and agreed to let him mediate, which resulted in M23 agreeing to withdrawing their forces from Goma and Sake in principle, although a timeframe did not appear to have been agreed upon.[46] However, a DRC military spokesman claimed that M23 had refused to abandon Goma and said: "They have refused to leave the city of Goma. This is a declaration of war, and we intend to resume combat."[47] Nevertheless, the next day the situation appeared to ease, with M23 agreeing to a withdrawal from captured territory, with the intention of eventually leaving Goma and returning to their original positions before they took the city.[48]

 
M23 rebels withdrawing from Goma, November 2012

On 1 December, M23 rebels pulled out of Goma, later under Congolese army control.[49]

Peace agreement

On 24 February 2013, leaders of 11 African nations signed an agreement designed to bring peace to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the signers were Rwanda and Uganda, both of whom had been accused of aiding the rebellion, a charge the nations deny.[50]

The deal, which was brokered by the United Nations, consists of two principle parts. First, it calls on the DRC to implement security reforms, work to strengthen its government, and increase cooperation with its neighbors. Second, it calls on neighboring countries to help structurally reform certain DRC organizations, but to otherwise refrain from interfering with DRC internal affairs.[51] It also opens the possibility of a UN intervention brigade being established in the region.[52]

Several African countries have discussed contributing troops to an intervention force, which, if formed, would supplement the 17,000 UN military personnel already working in the area.[53] The M23 rebels were not represented in the deal's negotiations or at the signing.[50] M23 spokesperson Bertrand Bisimwa said he had not read the agreement but hoped it would not reignite fighting.[50]

 
M23 rebels with a technical near Goma, March 2013

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes the accord will usher in "an era of peace and stability" for Africa's Great Lakes region, but cautioned that the agreement "only the beginning of a comprehensive approach that will require sustained engagement."[52] He also said that a special envoy would be deployed in Congo in the near future.[50] United States ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice said she welcomes the deal and called on the Congolese government to continue working towards peace.[50]

In a statement, European Union leaders Catherine Ashton and Andris Piebalgs called the agreement and appointment of a UN envoy "important steps" in the peace process and commended the spirit of "good neighborliness" demonstrated.[54] However, regional analyst Theodore Trefon said the agreement was not a long-term solution. "You're not going to be able to impose peace from above or the outside on people who don't want peace", he remarked.[50] On his blog about Congo, Jason Stearns agrees writing "So are we back in a peace process? Not really. Or more precisely: We don’t know yet. The agreement is more a statement of principles than a concrete action plan."[53]

Separately, negotiations between the Congolese government and rebel leaders continued in neighboring Uganda. Ugandan Vice President Edward Ssekandi said the discussions had been productive thus far.[50] Joseph Kabila said negotiations would continue, but added that time was running out to reach an agreement, citing the 15 March deadline for the talks.[50]

On 18 March 2013, Bosco Ntaganda turned himself in to the U.S. embassy in Kigali, Rwanda,[55] where he requested transfer to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.[56] Though the reasons for his surrender are unknown it was speculated that he was either pressured to do so by Rwanda or feared infighting within the M23 movement and its military leader Sultani Makenga, which had recently forced Ntaganda's forces to flee the DRC into Rwanda. Though Rwanda was not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the media speculated it would be forced to turn him over to the ICC. The U.S. also had listed him on its War Crimes Rewards Programme.[57] On 22 March, he was detained by the ICC.[10] Four days later, he made his first appearance in front of the Court.[58]

Internal clashes

On 25 February, disagreement between factions of the M23 about how to react to the peace agreement led to violence. M23's political leader, Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero, was sacked.[59] In a statement signed by M23's military leader, Sultani Makenga, he was accused of treason because of "financial embezzlement, divisions, ethnic hatred, deceit and political immaturity".[60] Makenga declared himself interim leader and clashes between those loyal to Sultani Makenga and those loyal to Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero, who is allied with Bosco Ntaganda, have killed ten men and two others were hospitalized.[61] M23 has denied that it is hit by dissent.[7]

United Nations Force Intervention Brigade

See also: United Nations Force Intervention Brigade

In March 2013, the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of an intervention brigade within MONUSCO to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without the Congolese national army, against armed groups that threaten peace in eastern DRC. The brigade is based in North Kivu and is made up of a total of 3,069 peacekeepers. It is tasked with neutralizing armed groups, reducing the threat posed to State authority and civilian security and make space for stabilization activities.[62]

In May 2013, fighting continued for the first time in six months as M23 attacked the government's forces north of Goma.[63] At least 15 rebels and four government soldiers were killed in the fighting on 20 May as both sides traded artillery fire in the town of Mutaho near Goma after rebels tried to retake it from the government, which had recently seized it from them.[64]

Clashes once again broke out in July 2013, as M23 fought back against what it said was an army assault involving aircraft and artillery.[65] Government forces used heavy weapons against the rebels in the town of Muja, just north of Goma. A government spokesman claimed that 120 M23 members were killed, and 10 army soldiers were killed. The claim could not be independently verified.[66] During the same fighting government's forces were accused by the UN of mistreatment of M23 detainees and desecration of corpses of M23 combatants.[67] On 24 July 2013 the government's Mil Mi-24 gunships, piloted by Ukrainian soldiers from high altitudes, inflicted heavy civilian casualties near the village of Rumangabo.[68]

On 30 July the group were given a 48-hour ultimatum by the U.N. to leave the Goma area or face "use of force."[69] Between 21 and 29 August, heavy fighting outside Goma left 57 rebels, 10–23 government soldiers, 14 civilians and one Tanzanian U.N. peacekeeper dead. 720 government soldiers and 10 U.N. peacekeepers were also wounded.[70][71][72][73]

Congolese army offensive

In late October, the Congolese army captured two towns from M23 rebels: Kiwanja and Buhumba, both of which are in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province, near the Rwandan border.[74]

In October 2013, Congo told the UN that the movement was virtually finished after being pushed back from its key position at Mount Hehu and Rumanagabo, north of Goma, to an enclave near Rwanda. Congo also re-captured Kiwanja and Rutshuru and discovered mass graves.[75] On 30 October, the first town seized by the rebels in 2012 was stormed by UN-backed Congolese troops as the rebels abandoned Bunagana.[76]

Following Uganda's calls for a ceasefire on 1 November and government shelling the next day, as well as a new offensive on 3 November in the hills around the border with Uganda and Rwanda, M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa called to "immediately end hostilities" and that "we call on the facilitator of the Kampala peace talks to immediately put in place a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire."[77]

Despite the calls, the army accused the rebels of bombing Bunagana. Army spokesman Olivier Hamuli said: "This is not fighting, it is bombs launched by M23 targeting the population of Bunagana. They are targeting civilians." Conversely, the rebels said that they were attacked with heavy weapons. Radio Okapi reported that four civilians were killed and 10 others were wounded in Bunagana on 4 November. UN, EU and AU envoys urged both sides not to undo the progress made in peace talks and that M23 should renounce its rebellion and the army should hold off from further military action.[78]

Rebel surrender

 
Government troops of the FARDC near Goma in May 2013

The next day, following the two-week UN-backed offensive[79] the government claimed to have defeated the rebels,[80] as the group said it is ending its rebellion and would disarm and demobilise its forces in order to pursue a political solution. The announcement came hours after its fighters were driven out of its last two strongholds of Tshanzu and Runyoni at about 3:00. Bisimiwa issued a statement that read: "The chief of general staff and the commanders of all major units are requested to prepare troops for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration on terms to be agreed with the government of Congo."[81]

Government spokesman Laurent Mende said that many rebel fighters were surrendering and that Congo was ready to pursue peace talks. The U.S. special envoy for the African Great Lakes region said from Pretoria: "In a region that has suffered so much, this is obviously a significant positive step in the right direction."[81] On 6 November 2013, the 23 March rebels fled the country.[82] The next day, the rebels surrendered at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda[83] as about 1,500 fighters, believed to be most of the force were held after surrendering in Kisoro by the borders, this included Sultani Makenga.[84] M23's surrender has sparked many questions of legal accountability for military leaders, such as Makenga, but also for lower level combatants and other parties to the conflict.[85]

Agreement

At a meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, the Congolese government delegation left the talks after a failure to agree to a wording of a document intended to officially end the insurgency. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said: "Uganda seems now to be acting as part of the conflict. It has interests in M23." At the same time, no dates for talks to resume were set.[86]

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was also accused of subverting the East African Community by marginalising the leaders of Burundi and Tanzania by not inviting them for the talks. Freedom and Unity Front leader General David Sejusa said: "He started that rebellion. He gave them arms, he gave them financial support, he gave them equipment, and he gave them uniforms. So, it's not like I’m talking out of the blue. But, then, the chameleon he is, he turns around and then he postures as if he's the one who wants to bring peace."[87]

On 12 December 2013, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, said that an agreement had been signed in Nairobi between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 movement.[88]

Despite the agreement, there were difficulties in pacifying the region. Over the 14–15 December weekend, at least 21 people were discovered to have been hacked to death in the area, although the perpetrators were not known.[89] There were also concerns about DDR for M23 officers and soldiers who were in Uganda and Rwanda and fears of renewed instability. Furthermore, on 2 January, Colonel Mamadou Ndala, who helped lead the counter-operations, was killed in North Kivu province[90] by the Allied Democratic Forces-NALU (ADF-NALU).[91]

Allegations of Rwandan involvement

A UN report stated that the rebels were getting support from Rwanda.[92] According to the DR Congo government, 25 Rwandan members of M23 have surrendered as part of a total of over 370 M23 soldiers that have allegedly surrendered by 25 June.[93] On 19 November, Rwanda claimed that the DRC government forces fired tank[94] and mortar shells across the border into its territory.[95] The DRC government confirmed the incident, but claimed that Rwanda shelled its own territory to justify a wider-scale intervention in the DRC.[96]

The U.S. government announced on 21 July that it would cut military aid to Rwanda.[97] U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen Rapp stated that Rwandan authorities could be charged for "aiding and abetting" war crimes: "There is a line that one can cross under international law where you can be held responsible for aiding a group in a way that makes possible their commission of atrocities."[98] The United States cited Rwandan support for the M23 militia, while they employed child soldiers.[99]

Rwanda denied that it was backing the rebels, calling the accusation an attempt to make the nation a "scapegoat" for DRC's problems.[100] The SANDF said it was unable to confirm that Rwanda has supported M23.[101]

On 30 November 2012, the United Kingdom's international development secretary Justine Greening declared that the UK government decided to withhold a multimillion-dollar aid payment to Rwanda over allegations that it is backing M23 rebels. Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo replied that the measure "is based on allegations of faulty reports which we have said for the last six months are wrong."[17]

See also

Notes and references

Footnotes

References

  1. ^ a b South Africa deploys troops to DR Congo: News 24 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Africareview.com (2 June 2012). Retrieved on 2013-09-04.
  2. ^ a b "Last batch of Tanzanian troops now in Goma for the Force Intervention Brigade". MONUSCO. 12 June 2013. from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  3. ^ "UN troops clash with rebels in DR Congo – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b According to a leaked U.N. report. "Rwanda defence chief leads DR Congo rebels, UN report says". BBC. 17 October 2012. from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  5. ^ Andrew Harding (5 November 2013). "BBC News – DR Congo M23 rebels 'end insurgency'". BBC. from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Olivier, Darren. "How M23 was rolled back". African Defence Review. from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. ^ a b "DR Congo: M23's Makenga and Runiga factions 'clash'". BBC News. 25 February 2013. from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  8. ^ "DR Congo troops shell rebel bases". Al Jazeera. 18 May 2012. from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  9. ^ Smith, David (28 November 2012). "Hunting the Terminator: Congo continues search for Bosco Ntaganda". The Guardian. London. from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  10. ^ a b Mike Corder (22 March 2013). "International court detains Rwandan-born warlord". Usatoday.com. from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  11. ^ As of 1 December 2012, see Johnny McDevitt (1 December 2012). "Congo rebels withdraw from Goma". The Guardian. London. from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d Estimate for 2013 only presented by Casey-Maslen, Stuart, ed. (2014). The War Report: Armed Conflict in 2013. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 135–6.
  13. ^ a b "Casualties as Congo and UN forces fight rebels – Yahoo News". News.yahoo.com. 26 August 2013. from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  14. ^ BDlive – SA soldiers getting more involved in Congo 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 29 December 2013
  15. ^ Casey-Maslen, Stuart, ed. (2013). The War Report: Armed Conflict in 2012. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 107.
  16. ^ "Goma: M23 rebels capture DR Congo city". BBC News. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  17. ^ a b Laura Smith-Spark and David McKenzie (30 November 2012). "UK withholds Rwanda aid over claims it backs Congo rebels". CNN. from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  18. ^ "DR Congo government, CNDP rebels 'sign peace deal'". Agence France-Presse. 23 March 2009. from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  19. ^ Melanie Gouby (4 April 2012). "Congo-Kinshasa: General Ntaganda and Loyalists Desert Armed Forces". allafrica.com. from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  20. ^ Phil Moore (21 November 2012). "DRC rebels vow not to stop at Goma, say Kabila must go". Jakarta Globe. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  21. ^ Jason Stearns (4 May 2012). "Col. Makenga Joins Rebellion". congosiasa.blogspot.co.nz. from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  22. ^ Justin Dralaze (7 July 2012). "Congo rebels offer peace talks with government". Reuters. from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  23. ^ "DR Congo rebels 'advance on Goma'". BBC News. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  24. ^ Oliver Farry (9 July 2012). "DR Congo rebels seize strategic town of Rutshuru". France 24. Reuters. from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  25. ^ Kenny Katombe (24 July 2012). "Thousands flee heavy fighting between Congo army, rebels". Reuters India. from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  26. ^ "UN calls for end to DR Congo violence". Al Jazeera. 18 November 2012. from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  27. ^ "UN defends failed attempt to halt capture of Congo's Goma". Reuters. 21 November 2012. from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  28. ^ Jonny Hogg (17 November 2012). "U.N. attack helicopters hit rebels in eastern Congo". Reuters. from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  29. ^ Jonny Hogg and Louis Charbonneau (18 November 2012). "Well-equipped rebels advance in eastern Congo -U.N". Reuters via TheStar. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  30. ^ "RD Congo : militaires et autorités fuient Goma face à l'avancée des rebelles". AFP via Romandie. 18 November 2012. from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  31. ^ "DR. Congo rebels give 24-hour talks ultimatum". Agence France-Presse. 19 November 2012. from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  32. ^ a b c "DR Congo M23 rebels 'enter Goma city'". BBC News. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  33. ^ "DRC Army Accepts Defeat". IGIHE. 20 November 2012. from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  34. ^ Mike Pflanz (20 November 2012). "DRC rebels capture Goma without firing a shot". The Telegraph. London. from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  35. ^ Pete Jones and David Smith (20 November 2012). "Goma falls to Congo rebels". the Guardian. London. from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  36. ^ Jonny Hogg (20 November 2012). "Congo rebels seize eastern city as U.N. forces look on". Reuters. from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  37. ^ Lough, Richard (25 November 2012). "RPT-War-weary Goma frets under uneasy rebel occupation". Reuters. from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  38. ^ "Goma: M23 rebels capture DR Congo city". BBC News. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  39. ^ Phil Moore (20 November 2012). "DR Congo rebels capture Goma, accused of atrocities". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  40. ^ Jeffrey Gettleman and Josh Kron (20 November 2012). "Congo Rebels Seize Provincial Capital". The New York Times. from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  41. ^ a b "Rebels vow to take all of Congo, as army troops and police defect in Goma". CTV News. Associated Press. 21 November 2012. from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  42. ^ David Blair (21 November 2012). "Congo dispatch: Goma cowers under rule of its new masters". The Daily Telegraph. London. from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  43. ^ Edmund Kagire, Melanie Gouby (22 November 2012). "Congo rebels, military battle over town of Sake; rebels vow to press ahead with offensive". Lethbridge Herald. Retrieved 28 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
  44. ^ Jones, Pete (26 November 2012). "Congo's army accused of rape and looting as M23 rebels win image war". The Guardian. London. from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  45. ^ a b Mark Townsend, "Revealed: how the world turned its back on rape victims of Congo" 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 13 June 2015; accessed 15 November 2017
  46. ^ Richard Lough and Jonny Hogg (27 November 2012). "Congo rebels set conditions for Goma withdrawal Congo rebels set conditions for Goma withdrawal". Reuters. from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  47. ^ . The Washington Post. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  48. ^ . The Washington Post. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  49. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (1 December 2012). "Rebels Pull Out of Strategic City in Congo". The New York Times. from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h "African leaders sign deal aimed at peace in eastern Congo". Reuters. 24 February 2013. from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  51. ^ "African Leaders Sign DR Congo Peace Deal". Voice of America. 24 February 2013. from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  52. ^ a b "DR Congo: African leaders sign peace deal". BBC. 24 February 2013. from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  53. ^ a b Jeffrey Gettleman (24 February 2013). "'Framework' Announced for Peace in Congo". The New York Times. from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  54. ^ "EU Welcomes DR Congo Peace Deal; Commends UN Chief, African Leaders". RTT News. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  55. ^ BBC News – Bosco Ntaganda: Wanted Congolese in US mission in Rwanda 28 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Bbc.co.uk (18 March 2013). Retrieved on 2013-09-04.
  56. ^ "U.S. confirms Bosco Ntaganda turned himself in at U.S. Embassy in Kigali". Reuters. 18 March 2013. from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  57. ^ "The surrender of Bosco Ntaganda – Al Jazeera Blogs". Blogs.aljazeera.com. 20 March 2013. from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  58. ^ "BBC News – DR Congo: Bosco Ntaganda appears before ICC". BBC. 26 March 2013. from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  59. ^ "DR Congo: Army 'seizes' eastern towns held by M23 rebels". BBC News. 2 March 2013. from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  60. ^ "DR Congo: Bunagana residents flee M23 clashes to Uganda". BBC News. 1 March 2013. from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  61. ^ February 2013 "Clashes among DR Congo rebels leave 10 dead". Global Post. AFP. 25 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  62. ^ "Tanzanian troops arrive in eastern DR Congo as part of UN intervention brigade". United Nations. 10 May 2013. from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  63. ^ "Rebels and army clash in DR Congo's Goma – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  64. ^ Gabriel Gatehouse (21 May 2013). "BBC News – DR Congo fighting: Goma clashes 'kill 19'". BBC. from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  65. ^ Mark Doyle (15 July 2013). "BBC News – DR Congo M23 rebels battle army troops near Goma city". BBC. from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  66. ^ Katombe, Kenny (15 July 2013). "Congo army, M23 rebels clash for a second day near Goma". Reuters. from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  67. ^ "United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Statements". Un.org. 30 November 2011. from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  68. ^ Radio Okapi: DR Congo: Army pounded the positions of M23 Rumangabo. 27 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine 24 July 2013.
  69. ^ "UN gives ultimatum to DR Congo rebels – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  70. ^ "International News | World News – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  71. ^ "International News | World News – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  72. ^ "United Nations News Centre – DR Congo: UN chief deplores killing of Tanzanian peacekeeper". Un.org. 29 August 2013. from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  73. ^ "SA snipers kill Congo rebels". eNCA. 29 August 2013. from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  74. ^ "Congolese Army Says It Has Taken 2 More Towns". ABC News. 26 October 2013. from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  75. ^ "Congolese soldiers push back M23 rebels – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  76. ^ "Congo army enters last major rebel stronghold – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  77. ^ "DRC's M23 rebels declare ceasefire – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  78. ^ "DR Congo battles rage despite ceasefire offer – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  79. ^ "DR Congo army defeats M23 rebels – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  80. ^ Moses Rono BBC Africa security correspondent (5 November 2013). "BBC News – DR Congo claims defeat of M23 rebels". BBC. from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  81. ^ a b "DR Congo rebels say their revolt is over – Africa". Al Jazeera English. from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  82. ^ Defeated M23 rebels flee DRC. 12 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine 6 November 2013, 11:11am /
  83. ^ "DR Congo's M23 rebel chief Sultani Makenga 'surrenders'". BBC News. 7 November 2013. from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  84. ^ DR Congo rebels surrender in Uganda, 8 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Aljazeera. 7 November 2013.
  85. ^ "Surrendering to the Big Picture: Historical and Legal Perspectives on Accountability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Following the Defeat of the 23 March Movement". 17 February 2014. from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  86. ^ "DRC leaves Uganda-hosted talks with rebels". Aljazeera.com. 12 November 2013. from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  87. ^ Butty, James (20 November 2013). "Ugandan President Accused of Subverting East African Community". Voice of America. from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  88. ^ "DRC government and M23 sign peace deal". aljazeera.com. 13 December 2013. from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  89. ^ "Children among group hacked to death in DRC". Aljazeera.com English. 16 December 2013. from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  90. ^ "DR Congo risks violence despite rebel defeat". Aljazeera English. 7 January 2014. from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  91. ^ Phil Moore (6 January 2014). "Death of Mamadou: DRC's warrior leader". Aljazeera.com. from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  92. ^ "Rwanda 'supporting DR Congo mutineers'". BBC News. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  93. ^ "Clashes in eastern DR Congo claim lives". Al Jazeera. 6 June 2012. from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  94. ^ Phil Moore (19 November 2012). "Rwanda accuses DR Congo of bombing amid battle for Goma". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  95. ^ Katrina Manson (19 November 2012). "Congo rebels attack Goma". Financial Times. from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.(subscription required)
  96. ^ Jonny Hogg (19 November 2012). "Rwanda accuses Congo of shelling border town". Reuters. from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  97. ^ Joe Bavier (21 July 2012). "U.S. cuts military aid to Rwanda over Congo rebel support". Reuters. from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  98. ^ Chris McGreal (25 July 2012). "Rwanda's Paul Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes". The Guardian. London. from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  99. ^ "US blocks military aid to Rwanda over alleged backing of M23 child soldiers Rwandan government condemns sanctions, which also apply to Burma, Central African Republic, Sudan and Syria". TheGuardian.com. 4 October 2013. from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  100. ^ . Radio Netherlands. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  101. ^ "SANDF unable to confirm Rwandan support for M23". from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2013.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to M23 rebellion.
  • Full text of the Agenda for the Dialogue between the Government of the DRC and the M23 on the situation in Eastern Congo, 16 January 2013, UN Peacemaker

Coordinates: 1°36′14″S 29°11′43″E / 1.6038°S 29.1953°E / -1.6038; 29.1953

January 24, 2023
rebellion, also, offensive, 2022, armed, conflict, north, kivu, democratic, republic, congo, that, occurred, between, march, movement, government, forces, rebellion, part, continued, fighting, region, after, formal, second, congo, 2003, broke, 2012, continued,. See also M23 offensive 2022 The M23 rebellion was an armed conflict in North Kivu Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC that occurred between the March 23 Movement and government forces The rebellion was part of continued fighting in the region after the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2003 It broke out in 2012 and continued into 2013 when a peace agreement was made among eleven African nations and the M23 troops surrendered in Uganda M23 rebellionPart of the Kivu conflictUN forces and refugees in Goma during the rebellionDate4 April 2012 2012 04 04 7 November 2013 2013 11 07 1 year 7 months and 3 days LocationNorth Kivu Democratic Republic of the CongoResultCongolese government victory M23 disarms and demobilises 5 Belligerents Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade South Africa 1 Tanzania 2 Malawi 3 March 23 MovementAlleged support Uganda 4 Rwanda 4 Commanders and leadersJoseph Kabila Lucien Bahuma 6 Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz 6 Bansi Ponnappa James Aloizi Mwakibolwa 6 Bertrand BisimwaSultani Makenga POW 7 Bosco Ntaganda POW 8 9 10 Strength1 345 1 1 247 2 6 000 men 2012 11 Casualties and losses200 killed 12 3 killed 12 5 wounded 13 14 1 killed 1 wounded 13 962 killed 12 Civilian casualties 283 killed 12 140 000 displaced 15 In April 2012 former National Congress for the Defence of the People CNDP soldiers mutinied against the DRC government and the peacekeeping contingent of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUSCO Mutineers formed a rebel group called the March 23 Movement M23 also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army It was composed of former members of the rebel CNDP and allegedly sponsored by the government of the neighbouring states of Rwanda and Uganda On 20 November 2012 M23 rebels took control of Goma a North Kivu provincial capital with a population of one million people 16 By the end of November that year the conflict had forced more than 140 000 people to flee their homes according to the U N refugee agency in addition to the refugees already forced from their homes by previous rounds of fighting in the region 17 After repelling an ill organized government counterattack and making some further gains M23 agreed to withdraw from Goma on their own and left the city in early December On 24 February 2013 eleven African nations signed an agreement designed to bring peace to the region In October 2013 Congo told the UN that the M23 movement was virtually finished after being pushed back to a small area near Rwanda On 7 November 2013 following significant defeats to a UN backed government offensive M23 troops crossed into Uganda and surrendered Contents 1 Background 2 The conflict 2 1 Beginning of hostilities 2 2 November M23 offensive 2 2 1 Taking of Goma 2 2 2 Continued fighting 2 3 Peace negotiations and M23 withdrawal 2 4 Peace agreement 2 5 Internal clashes 2 6 United Nations Force Intervention Brigade 2 7 Congolese army offensive 2 7 1 Rebel surrender 2 8 Agreement 3 Allegations of Rwandan involvement 4 See also 5 Notes and references 5 1 Footnotes 5 2 References 6 External linksBackground Edit The Province of North Kivu Nord Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo See also Kivu conflict and March 23 Movement In March 2009 National Congress for the Defence of the People CNDP rebels signed a peace treaty with the government in which it agreed to become a political party in exchange for the release of its imprisoned members 18 On 4 April 2012 it was reported that Bosco Ntaganda and 300 loyal troops defected from the DRC and clashed with government forces in the Rutshuru region north of Goma 19 According to M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarma the defection was due to Joseph Kabila s cheating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo general election 2011 20 The conflict EditBeginning of hostilities Edit Jason Stearns reported on 4 May 2012 that Colonel Sultani Makenga had joined the M23 Stearns commented that this is a significant development since Makenga was the second highest ranking CNDP officer behind Ntaganda in the Amani Leo structure as the deputy commander of South Kivu 21 On 6 July 2012 M23 attacked and took the town of Bunagana less than a kilometer from the border with Uganda Some 600 DRC troops fled across the border and took refuge in Uganda The rebels issued a statement that they would cease their offensive if the government agreed to holding peace talks with them The United Nations condemned rebel attacks in the region after an Indian peacekeeper was killed in the fighting 22 On 8 July the rebels captured Rutshuru 70 kilometers north of Goma the capital of North Kivu province By 10 July they were 40 kilometers from the city of Goma Witnesses said rebels appeared to be taking towns and villages with ease with government troops usually melting away 23 The towns of Rubare and Ntamugenga had also reportedly fallen to the rebels 24 On 20 July M23 and government forces exchanged heavy weapons fire around Kibumba and Rugari forcing thousands of civilians to flee towards Goma UN helicopter gunships were seen headed towards the front line The security situation in eastern Congo was described as rapidly becoming worse 25 November M23 offensive Edit Fighting broke out again in November 2012 with reports of heavy gunfire and explosions near Goma Both sides blamed the other for the outbreak of hostilities Government forces claimed M23 rebels suffered 110 dead a claim the rebels denied Government forces reportedly used tanks and helicopters in the fighting which saw rebels advance closer to Goma nevertheless 26 On 15 November MONUSCO helicopter gunships were deployed to support government forces as they fought to hold off a rebel attack south of Kibumba flying 17 sorties and firing more than 500 rockets and missiles The combined army and UN assault killed approximately 64 M23 fighters 27 However the rebels resumed their offensive the next day and in larger numbers their advance put them within 18 miles of Goma The army retreated under heavy fire to the southern outskirts of Kibumba after being forced back by the rebels according to the provincial governor The government army began to regroup around the nearby town of Kilimanyoka after the retreat Later rebels claimed to have seized control of Kibumba but said they had no plans on attacking Goma 28 A UN spokesman told that the M23 appeared to be well equipped with night vision equipment and 120mm mortars 29 On 18 November it was reported that Congolese troops and the administration were leaving Goma in a hurry as M23 was at the gates of the city The North Kivu governor left on a boat en route to South Kivu The United Nations troops did not react when the rebels bypassed their camp on the road to Goma 30 The following day M23 demanded that the Congolese government open peace talks or face an escalation of fighting 31 Taking of Goma Edit M23 rebels in Goma M23 forces began an assault against army positions in Goma on 19 November sending mortar shells and machine gun fire into the city which was still being defended by the government army M23 spokesman Lt Col Vianney Kazarma said Fighting is already taking place on the streets of Goma this morning The DRC government spokesman confirmed the claim saying We have yet to stop this attack they have not taken Goma yet Congolese army units were reported to be holding defensive positions in the city centre and the airport armed with tanks and machine guns M23 forces entered the city proper on 20 November advancing on foot up the main road towards the city centre Heavy bursts of small arms fire could be heard in the city and near the airport M23 was reported to have captured the Goma International Airport 32 Though other reports claimed that UN forces retained control of the airport with Lt Gen Chander Prakash commander of UN forces in the area claiming that M23 attacked the peacekeepers but were repelled 32 A South African peacekeeper from the MONUSCO force pictured in 2013 M23 forces moved in two columns past Sake eventually capturing most of Goma as well as a nearby border post with Rwanda Some government soldiers took off their uniforms before fleeing the city 33 By late morning Congolese government troops had been forced back to the west of the city with many abandoning their positions and withdrawing westwards from Goma entirely Rebels marched into the centre without a shot being fired as the government army fled and UN peacekeepers stood down 34 Local police surrendered their posts and weapons without resistance M23 made a statement later on announcing The town of Goma fell at 11 33 local time despite the attack helicopters despite the heavy weapons the FARDC national army has let the town fall into our hands 35 Reuters reports on the scene confirmed that heavily armed M23 soldiers were present and walking through the city unchallenged and that the UN peacekeepers present were not resisting the M23 advance through the city Some residents came onto the streets to greet the rebel takeover 36 After guards of the local prison fled Goma along with the national army more than a thousand criminal prisoners escaped through a hole in the prison wall The rebels ordered civil servants back to work warning they will not tolerate corruption and allowed the UN troops to continue to patrol the streets 37 DR Congo president Joseph Kabila urged the city s people to resist the group s takeover 38 UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said peacekeepers cannot substitute for the national army adding that the 1 500 UN troops in Goma held their fire because they did not want to risk civilian lives 32 UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon criticized M23 for alleged human rights violations during the takeover including destruction of property intimidation of journalists and the abduction of women and children 39 Noting that the First Congo War had begun with fighting in the same region the New York Times described Goma s takeover as raising serious questions about the stability of Congo as a whole 40 Continued fighting Edit Almost 3 000 41 members of the Congolese army and police forces switched sides in Goma on 20 November and joined the rebellion as M23 continued its advance seizing control of the town of Sake and stating that it intends to overthrow the national government M23 forces began advancing towards the town of Bukavu capital of South Kivu state on 21 November 41 They announced their next intended target after Bukavu as the city of Kisangani the capital of Orientale Province 42 Government forces despite having withdrawn from Sake launched a counterattack to retake the city on 22 November leading to heavy clashes with M23 forces there 43 The surprise counterattack was badly beaten by the rebels Thousands of hungry and demoralized government soldiers fled back in disarray to the town of Minova around 50 km from Goma They got drunk and reportedly began raping looting and threatening civilians the allegations were confirmed by an UN source for The Guardian which described them as angry and paranoid and contrasted their appearance to the apparent discipline in the rebel ranks 44 The troops continued raping local civilian women and girls in a systematic way for three days resulting in international outrage The UN condemned the atrocity as horrifying in its scale and systematic nature 45 The American Bar Association s office in Goma has identified 1 014 victims but the UN had a final list of about 126 The DRC Army prosecuted officers in 2014 in what was called the Minova Trial the largest rape trial in DRC history Only a few junior officers were convicted There has been insufficient financial support for the women who were victimized and insufficient protection for them in the years since 45 Peace negotiations and M23 withdrawal Edit MONUSCO troops around Goma 2012 According to the chief of Uganda People s Defence Force M23 leader met with him and agreed to let him mediate which resulted in M23 agreeing to withdrawing their forces from Goma and Sake in principle although a timeframe did not appear to have been agreed upon 46 However a DRC military spokesman claimed that M23 had refused to abandon Goma and said They have refused to leave the city of Goma This is a declaration of war and we intend to resume combat 47 Nevertheless the next day the situation appeared to ease with M23 agreeing to a withdrawal from captured territory with the intention of eventually leaving Goma and returning to their original positions before they took the city 48 M23 rebels withdrawing from Goma November 2012 On 1 December M23 rebels pulled out of Goma later under Congolese army control 49 Peace agreement Edit On 24 February 2013 leaders of 11 African nations signed an agreement designed to bring peace to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo Among the signers were Rwanda and Uganda both of whom had been accused of aiding the rebellion a charge the nations deny 50 The deal which was brokered by the United Nations consists of two principle parts First it calls on the DRC to implement security reforms work to strengthen its government and increase cooperation with its neighbors Second it calls on neighboring countries to help structurally reform certain DRC organizations but to otherwise refrain from interfering with DRC internal affairs 51 It also opens the possibility of a UN intervention brigade being established in the region 52 Several African countries have discussed contributing troops to an intervention force which if formed would supplement the 17 000 UN military personnel already working in the area 53 The M23 rebels were not represented in the deal s negotiations or at the signing 50 M23 spokesperson Bertrand Bisimwa said he had not read the agreement but hoped it would not reignite fighting 50 M23 rebels with a technical near Goma March 2013 UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon said he hopes the accord will usher in an era of peace and stability for Africa s Great Lakes region but cautioned that the agreement only the beginning of a comprehensive approach that will require sustained engagement 52 He also said that a special envoy would be deployed in Congo in the near future 50 United States ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said she welcomes the deal and called on the Congolese government to continue working towards peace 50 In a statement European Union leaders Catherine Ashton and Andris Piebalgs called the agreement and appointment of a UN envoy important steps in the peace process and commended the spirit of good neighborliness demonstrated 54 However regional analyst Theodore Trefon said the agreement was not a long term solution You re not going to be able to impose peace from above or the outside on people who don t want peace he remarked 50 On his blog about Congo Jason Stearns agrees writing So are we back in a peace process Not really Or more precisely We don t know yet The agreement is more a statement of principles than a concrete action plan 53 Separately negotiations between the Congolese government and rebel leaders continued in neighboring Uganda Ugandan Vice President Edward Ssekandi said the discussions had been productive thus far 50 Joseph Kabila said negotiations would continue but added that time was running out to reach an agreement citing the 15 March deadline for the talks 50 On 18 March 2013 Bosco Ntaganda turned himself in to the U S embassy in Kigali Rwanda 55 where he requested transfer to the International Criminal Court in The Hague 56 Though the reasons for his surrender are unknown it was speculated that he was either pressured to do so by Rwanda or feared infighting within the M23 movement and its military leader Sultani Makenga which had recently forced Ntaganda s forces to flee the DRC into Rwanda Though Rwanda was not a signatory to the Rome Statute the media speculated it would be forced to turn him over to the ICC The U S also had listed him on its War Crimes Rewards Programme 57 On 22 March he was detained by the ICC 10 Four days later he made his first appearance in front of the Court 58 Internal clashes Edit On 25 February disagreement between factions of the M23 about how to react to the peace agreement led to violence M23 s political leader Jean Marie Runiga Lugerero was sacked 59 In a statement signed by M23 s military leader Sultani Makenga he was accused of treason because of financial embezzlement divisions ethnic hatred deceit and political immaturity 60 Makenga declared himself interim leader and clashes between those loyal to Sultani Makenga and those loyal to Jean Marie Runiga Lugerero who is allied with Bosco Ntaganda have killed ten men and two others were hospitalized 61 M23 has denied that it is hit by dissent 7 United Nations Force Intervention Brigade Edit See also United Nations Force Intervention Brigade Tanzanian special forces form part of the intervention brigade In March 2013 the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of an intervention brigade within MONUSCO to carry out targeted offensive operations with or without the Congolese national army against armed groups that threaten peace in eastern DRC The brigade is based in North Kivu and is made up of a total of 3 069 peacekeepers It is tasked with neutralizing armed groups reducing the threat posed to State authority and civilian security and make space for stabilization activities 62 In May 2013 fighting continued for the first time in six months as M23 attacked the government s forces north of Goma 63 At least 15 rebels and four government soldiers were killed in the fighting on 20 May as both sides traded artillery fire in the town of Mutaho near Goma after rebels tried to retake it from the government which had recently seized it from them 64 Clashes once again broke out in July 2013 as M23 fought back against what it said was an army assault involving aircraft and artillery 65 Government forces used heavy weapons against the rebels in the town of Muja just north of Goma A government spokesman claimed that 120 M23 members were killed and 10 army soldiers were killed The claim could not be independently verified 66 During the same fighting government s forces were accused by the UN of mistreatment of M23 detainees and desecration of corpses of M23 combatants 67 On 24 July 2013 the government s Mil Mi 24 gunships piloted by Ukrainian soldiers from high altitudes inflicted heavy civilian casualties near the village of Rumangabo 68 On 30 July the group were given a 48 hour ultimatum by the U N to leave the Goma area or face use of force 69 Between 21 and 29 August heavy fighting outside Goma left 57 rebels 10 23 government soldiers 14 civilians and one Tanzanian U N peacekeeper dead 720 government soldiers and 10 U N peacekeepers were also wounded 70 71 72 73 Congolese army offensive Edit In late October the Congolese army captured two towns from M23 rebels Kiwanja and Buhumba both of which are in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province near the Rwandan border 74 In October 2013 Congo told the UN that the movement was virtually finished after being pushed back from its key position at Mount Hehu and Rumanagabo north of Goma to an enclave near Rwanda Congo also re captured Kiwanja and Rutshuru and discovered mass graves 75 On 30 October the first town seized by the rebels in 2012 was stormed by UN backed Congolese troops as the rebels abandoned Bunagana 76 Following Uganda s calls for a ceasefire on 1 November and government shelling the next day as well as a new offensive on 3 November in the hills around the border with Uganda and Rwanda M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa called to immediately end hostilities and that we call on the facilitator of the Kampala peace talks to immediately put in place a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire 77 Despite the calls the army accused the rebels of bombing Bunagana Army spokesman Olivier Hamuli said This is not fighting it is bombs launched by M23 targeting the population of Bunagana They are targeting civilians Conversely the rebels said that they were attacked with heavy weapons Radio Okapi reported that four civilians were killed and 10 others were wounded in Bunagana on 4 November UN EU and AU envoys urged both sides not to undo the progress made in peace talks and that M23 should renounce its rebellion and the army should hold off from further military action 78 Rebel surrender Edit Government troops of the FARDC near Goma in May 2013 The next day following the two week UN backed offensive 79 the government claimed to have defeated the rebels 80 as the group said it is ending its rebellion and would disarm and demobilise its forces in order to pursue a political solution The announcement came hours after its fighters were driven out of its last two strongholds of Tshanzu and Runyoni at about 3 00 Bisimiwa issued a statement that read The chief of general staff and the commanders of all major units are requested to prepare troops for disarmament demobilisation and reintegration on terms to be agreed with the government of Congo 81 Government spokesman Laurent Mende said that many rebel fighters were surrendering and that Congo was ready to pursue peace talks The U S special envoy for the African Great Lakes region said from Pretoria In a region that has suffered so much this is obviously a significant positive step in the right direction 81 On 6 November 2013 the 23 March rebels fled the country 82 The next day the rebels surrendered at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda 83 as about 1 500 fighters believed to be most of the force were held after surrendering in Kisoro by the borders this included Sultani Makenga 84 M23 s surrender has sparked many questions of legal accountability for military leaders such as Makenga but also for lower level combatants and other parties to the conflict 85 Agreement Edit At a meeting in Entebbe Uganda the Congolese government delegation left the talks after a failure to agree to a wording of a document intended to officially end the insurgency Government spokesman Lambert Mende said Uganda seems now to be acting as part of the conflict It has interests in M23 At the same time no dates for talks to resume were set 86 Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was also accused of subverting the East African Community by marginalising the leaders of Burundi and Tanzania by not inviting them for the talks Freedom and Unity Front leader General David Sejusa said He started that rebellion He gave them arms he gave them financial support he gave them equipment and he gave them uniforms So it s not like I m talking out of the blue But then the chameleon he is he turns around and then he postures as if he s the one who wants to bring peace 87 On 12 December 2013 Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta s spokesman Manoah Esipisu said that an agreement had been signed in Nairobi between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 movement 88 Despite the agreement there were difficulties in pacifying the region Over the 14 15 December weekend at least 21 people were discovered to have been hacked to death in the area although the perpetrators were not known 89 There were also concerns about DDR for M23 officers and soldiers who were in Uganda and Rwanda and fears of renewed instability Furthermore on 2 January Colonel Mamadou Ndala who helped lead the counter operations was killed in North Kivu province 90 by the Allied Democratic Forces NALU ADF NALU 91 Allegations of Rwandan involvement EditA UN report stated that the rebels were getting support from Rwanda 92 According to the DR Congo government 25 Rwandan members of M23 have surrendered as part of a total of over 370 M23 soldiers that have allegedly surrendered by 25 June 93 On 19 November Rwanda claimed that the DRC government forces fired tank 94 and mortar shells across the border into its territory 95 The DRC government confirmed the incident but claimed that Rwanda shelled its own territory to justify a wider scale intervention in the DRC 96 The U S government announced on 21 July that it would cut military aid to Rwanda 97 U S Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen Rapp stated that Rwandan authorities could be charged for aiding and abetting war crimes There is a line that one can cross under international law where you can be held responsible for aiding a group in a way that makes possible their commission of atrocities 98 The United States cited Rwandan support for the M23 militia while they employed child soldiers 99 Rwanda denied that it was backing the rebels calling the accusation an attempt to make the nation a scapegoat for DRC s problems 100 The SANDF said it was unable to confirm that Rwanda has supported M23 101 On 30 November 2012 the United Kingdom s international development secretary Justine Greening declared that the UK government decided to withhold a multimillion dollar aid payment to Rwanda over allegations that it is backing M23 rebels Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo replied that the measure is based on allegations of faulty reports which we have said for the last six months are wrong 17 See also Edit Democratic Republic of the Congo portalLaurent NkundaNotes and references EditFootnotes Edit References Edit a b South Africa deploys troops to DR Congo News Archived 24 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine Africareview com 2 June 2012 Retrieved on 2013 09 04 a b Last batch of Tanzanian troops now in Goma for the Force Intervention Brigade MONUSCO 12 June 2013 Archived from the original on 3 December 2013 Retrieved 10 October 2013 UN troops clash with rebels in DR Congo Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 27 August 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 a b According to a leaked U N report Rwanda defence chief leads DR Congo rebels UN report says BBC 17 October 2012 Archived from the original on 27 November 2012 Retrieved 17 October 2012 Andrew Harding 5 November 2013 BBC News DR Congo M23 rebels end insurgency BBC Archived from the original on 6 November 2013 Retrieved 6 November 2013 a b c Olivier Darren How M23 was rolled back African Defence Review Archived from the original on 3 April 2015 Retrieved 21 April 2015 a b DR Congo M23 s Makenga and Runiga factions clash BBC News 25 February 2013 Archived from the original on 28 February 2013 Retrieved 3 March 2013 DR Congo troops shell rebel bases Al Jazeera 18 May 2012 Archived from the original on 6 September 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Smith David 28 November 2012 Hunting the Terminator Congo continues search for Bosco Ntaganda The Guardian London Archived from the original on 11 August 2014 Retrieved 4 November 2013 a b Mike Corder 22 March 2013 International court detains Rwandan born warlord Usatoday com Archived from the original on 15 April 2014 Retrieved 4 November 2013 As of 1 December 2012 see Johnny McDevitt 1 December 2012 Congo rebels withdraw from Goma The Guardian London Archived from the original on 31 October 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 a b c d Estimate for 2013 only presented by Casey Maslen Stuart ed 2014 The War Report Armed Conflict in 2013 Oxford Oxford University Press pp 135 6 a b Casualties as Congo and UN forces fight rebels Yahoo News News yahoo com 26 August 2013 Archived from the original on 5 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 BDlive SA soldiers getting more involved in Congo Archived 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 29 December 2013 Casey Maslen Stuart ed 2013 The War Report Armed Conflict in 2012 Oxford Oxford University Press p 107 Goma M23 rebels capture DR Congo city BBC News 20 November 2012 Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 a b Laura Smith Spark and David McKenzie 30 November 2012 UK withholds Rwanda aid over claims it backs Congo rebels CNN Archived from the original on 20 August 2013 Retrieved 1 December 2012 DR Congo government CNDP rebels sign peace deal Agence France Presse 23 March 2009 Archived from the original on 30 November 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Melanie Gouby 4 April 2012 Congo Kinshasa General Ntaganda and Loyalists Desert Armed Forces allafrica com Archived from the original on 21 September 2013 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Phil Moore 21 November 2012 DRC rebels vow not to stop at Goma say Kabila must go Jakarta Globe Agence France Presse Archived from the original on 23 November 2012 Retrieved 21 November 2012 Jason Stearns 4 May 2012 Col Makenga Joins Rebellion congosiasa blogspot co nz Archived from the original on 4 May 2013 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Justin Dralaze 7 July 2012 Congo rebels offer peace talks with government Reuters Archived from the original on 17 July 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 DR Congo rebels advance on Goma BBC News 9 July 2012 Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Oliver Farry 9 July 2012 DR Congo rebels seize strategic town of Rutshuru France 24 Reuters Archived from the original on 19 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Kenny Katombe 24 July 2012 Thousands flee heavy fighting between Congo army rebels Reuters India Archived from the original on 3 February 2016 Retrieved 26 July 2012 UN calls for end to DR Congo violence Al Jazeera 18 November 2012 Archived from the original on 20 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 UN defends failed attempt to halt capture of Congo s Goma Reuters 21 November 2012 Archived from the original on 29 November 2012 Retrieved 21 November 2012 Jonny Hogg 17 November 2012 U N attack helicopters hit rebels in eastern Congo Reuters Archived from the original on 3 February 2016 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Jonny Hogg and Louis Charbonneau 18 November 2012 Well equipped rebels advance in eastern Congo U N Reuters via TheStar Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 RD Congo militaires et autorites fuient Goma face a l avancee des rebelles AFP via Romandie 18 November 2012 Archived from the original on 3 February 2016 Retrieved 20 November 2012 DR Congo rebels give 24 hour talks ultimatum Agence France Presse 19 November 2012 Archived from the original on 4 December 2017 Retrieved 19 November 2012 a b c DR Congo M23 rebels enter Goma city BBC News 20 November 2012 Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 DRC Army Accepts Defeat IGIHE 20 November 2012 Archived from the original on 22 February 2014 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Mike Pflanz 20 November 2012 DRC rebels capture Goma without firing a shot The Telegraph London Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Pete Jones and David Smith 20 November 2012 Goma falls to Congo rebels the Guardian London Archived from the original on 22 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Jonny Hogg 20 November 2012 Congo rebels seize eastern city as U N forces look on Reuters Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Lough Richard 25 November 2012 RPT War weary Goma frets under uneasy rebel occupation Reuters Archived from the original on 4 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Goma M23 rebels capture DR Congo city BBC News 20 November 2012 Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 21 November 2012 Phil Moore 20 November 2012 DR Congo rebels capture Goma accused of atrocities Agence France Presse Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Jeffrey Gettleman and Josh Kron 20 November 2012 Congo Rebels Seize Provincial Capital The New York Times Archived from the original on 20 November 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 a b Rebels vow to take all of Congo as army troops and police defect in Goma CTV News Associated Press 21 November 2012 Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 21 November 2012 David Blair 21 November 2012 Congo dispatch Goma cowers under rule of its new masters The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on 18 November 2018 Retrieved 3 April 2018 Edmund Kagire Melanie Gouby 22 November 2012 Congo rebels military battle over town of Sake rebels vow to press ahead with offensive Lethbridge Herald Retrieved 28 November 2012 permanent dead link Jones Pete 26 November 2012 Congo s army accused of rape and looting as M23 rebels win image war The Guardian London Archived from the original on 31 October 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 a b Mark Townsend Revealed how the world turned its back on rape victims of Congo Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian 13 June 2015 accessed 15 November 2017 Richard Lough and Jonny Hogg 27 November 2012 Congo rebels set conditions for Goma withdrawal Congo rebels set conditions for Goma withdrawal Reuters Archived from the original on 27 November 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 M23 rebels will not leave Congo city of Goma army calls it a declaration of war The Washington Post 26 November 2012 Archived from the original on 27 November 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 Congo rebels begin slow retreat from occupied territories in Masisi but still hold Goma The Washington Post 28 November 2012 Archived from the original on 28 November 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 Gettleman Jeffrey 1 December 2012 Rebels Pull Out of Strategic City in Congo The New York Times Archived from the original on 30 December 2012 Retrieved 24 December 2012 a b c d e f g h African leaders sign deal aimed at peace in eastern Congo Reuters 24 February 2013 Archived from the original on 28 February 2013 Retrieved 25 February 2013 African Leaders Sign DR Congo Peace Deal Voice of America 24 February 2013 Archived from the original on 26 February 2013 Retrieved 25 February 2013 a b DR Congo African leaders sign peace deal BBC 24 February 2013 Archived from the original on 24 February 2013 Retrieved 25 February 2013 a b Jeffrey Gettleman 24 February 2013 Framework Announced for Peace in Congo The New York Times Archived from the original on 24 February 2013 Retrieved 25 February 2013 EU Welcomes DR Congo Peace Deal Commends UN Chief African Leaders RTT News 24 February 2013 Archived from the original on 11 April 2013 Retrieved 25 February 2013 BBC News Bosco Ntaganda Wanted Congolese in US mission in Rwanda Archived 28 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Bbc co uk 18 March 2013 Retrieved on 2013 09 04 U S confirms Bosco Ntaganda turned himself in at U S Embassy in Kigali Reuters 18 March 2013 Archived from the original on 6 September 2015 Retrieved 31 January 2015 The surrender of Bosco Ntaganda Al Jazeera Blogs Blogs aljazeera com 20 March 2013 Archived from the original on 2 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 BBC News DR Congo Bosco Ntaganda appears before ICC BBC 26 March 2013 Archived from the original on 1 August 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 DR Congo Army seizes eastern towns held by M23 rebels BBC News 2 March 2013 Archived from the original on 2 March 2013 Retrieved 3 March 2013 DR Congo Bunagana residents flee M23 clashes to Uganda BBC News 1 March 2013 Archived from the original on 3 March 2013 Retrieved 3 March 2013 February 2013 Clashes among DR Congo rebels leave 10 dead Global Post AFP 25 February 2013 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a Check url value help Tanzanian troops arrive in eastern DR Congo as part of UN intervention brigade United Nations 10 May 2013 Archived from the original on 28 September 2013 Retrieved 8 September 2013 Rebels and army clash in DR Congo s Goma Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 20 August 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Gabriel Gatehouse 21 May 2013 BBC News DR Congo fighting Goma clashes kill 19 BBC Archived from the original on 13 August 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Mark Doyle 15 July 2013 BBC News DR Congo M23 rebels battle army troops near Goma city BBC Archived from the original on 18 July 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Katombe Kenny 15 July 2013 Congo army M23 rebels clash for a second day near Goma Reuters Archived from the original on 4 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki moon s Statements Un org 30 November 2011 Archived from the original on 3 February 2016 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Radio Okapi DR Congo Army pounded the positions of M23 Rumangabo Archived 27 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine 24 July 2013 UN gives ultimatum to DR Congo rebels Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 1 August 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 International News World News ABC News Abcnews go com Archived from the original on 28 August 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 International News World News ABC News Abcnews go com Archived from the original on 1 September 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 United Nations News Centre DR Congo UN chief deplores killing of Tanzanian peacekeeper Un org 29 August 2013 Archived from the original on 5 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 SA snipers kill Congo rebels eNCA 29 August 2013 Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Congolese Army Says It Has Taken 2 More Towns ABC News 26 October 2013 Archived from the original on 9 November 2013 Retrieved 27 October 2013 Congolese soldiers push back M23 rebels Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 31 October 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Congo army enters last major rebel stronghold Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 1 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 DRC s M23 rebels declare ceasefire Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 4 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 DR Congo battles rage despite ceasefire offer Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 5 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 DR Congo army defeats M23 rebels Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 6 November 2013 Retrieved 6 November 2013 Moses Rono BBC Africa security correspondent 5 November 2013 BBC News DR Congo claims defeat of M23 rebels BBC Archived from the original on 26 November 2018 Retrieved 6 November 2013 a b DR Congo rebels say their revolt is over Africa Al Jazeera English Archived from the original on 6 November 2013 Retrieved 6 November 2013 Defeated M23 rebels flee DRC Archived 12 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine 6 November 2013 11 11am DR Congo s M23 rebel chief Sultani Makenga surrenders BBC News 7 November 2013 Archived from the original on 12 June 2018 Retrieved 20 June 2018 DR Congo rebels surrender in Uganda Archived 8 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Aljazeera 7 November 2013 Surrendering to the Big Picture Historical and Legal Perspectives on Accountability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Following the Defeat of the 23 March Movement 17 February 2014 Archived from the original on 22 March 2014 Retrieved 21 March 2014 DRC leaves Uganda hosted talks with rebels Aljazeera com 12 November 2013 Archived from the original on 12 November 2013 Retrieved 12 November 2013 Butty James 20 November 2013 Ugandan President Accused of Subverting East African Community Voice of America Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 Retrieved 20 August 2017 DRC government and M23 sign peace deal aljazeera com 13 December 2013 Archived from the original on 20 August 2017 Retrieved 20 August 2017 Children among group hacked to death in DRC Aljazeera com English 16 December 2013 Archived from the original on 20 August 2017 Retrieved 20 August 2017 DR Congo risks violence despite rebel defeat Aljazeera English 7 January 2014 Archived from the original on 20 August 2017 Retrieved 20 August 2017 Phil Moore 6 January 2014 Death of Mamadou DRC s warrior leader Aljazeera com Archived from the original on 20 August 2017 Retrieved 20 August 2017 Rwanda supporting DR Congo mutineers BBC News 28 May 2012 Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Clashes in eastern DR Congo claim lives Al Jazeera 6 June 2012 Archived from the original on 14 June 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Phil Moore 19 November 2012 Rwanda accuses DR Congo of bombing amid battle for Goma Agence France Presse Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Katrina Manson 19 November 2012 Congo rebels attack Goma Financial Times Archived from the original on 21 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 subscription required Jonny Hogg 19 November 2012 Rwanda accuses Congo of shelling border town Reuters Archived from the original on 22 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Joe Bavier 21 July 2012 U S cuts military aid to Rwanda over Congo rebel support Reuters Archived from the original on 3 September 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Chris McGreal 25 July 2012 Rwanda s Paul Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes The Guardian London Archived from the original on 26 July 2012 Retrieved 26 July 2012 US blocks military aid to Rwanda over alleged backing of M23 child soldiers Rwandan government condemns sanctions which also apply to Burma Central African Republic Sudan and Syria TheGuardian com 4 October 2013 Archived from the original on 7 November 2013 Retrieved 8 November 2013 DRC conflict leads US to stop military aid for Rwanda Radio Netherlands 21 November 2012 Archived from the original on 18 December 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2012 SANDF unable to confirm Rwandan support for M23 Archived from the original on 3 February 2016 Retrieved 8 November 2013 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to M23 rebellion Full text of the Agenda for the Dialogue between the Government of the DRC and the M23 on the situation in Eastern Congo 16 January 2013 UN Peacemaker Coordinates 1 36 14 S 29 11 43 E 1 6038 S 29 1953 E 1 6038 29 1953 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M23 rebellion amp oldid 1128983303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.