Ugandan forces take over east Congo city as M23 rebels go away

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GOMA, Congo — East African regional forces have regained management of Bunagana, a strategic city in japanese Congo that had been held by M23 rebels for greater than 9 months, a spokesman for the regional drive mentioned Monday.

Ugandan forces formally deployed to Bunagana and can set up a foothold within the space and provides the M23 forces time to vacate, mentioned Capt. Kato Ahmad Hassan, spokesman for the Ugandan contingent of the regional drive. “We admire the command of the M23 for being cooperative to the contingent, for in accordance us a secure passage and for permitting us to occupy Bunagana,” he mentioned.

M23 didn’t reply to request for remark about their departure from Bunagana.

The rebels’ departure from Bunagana has been a key demand throughout a number of rounds of mediation efforts on the disaster in japanese Congo, the place greater than 120 armed teams have been combating for land, energy and assets and a few to guard their communities.

M23 rose to prominence 10 years in the past when its fighters seized Goma, japanese Congo’s largest metropolis on the border with Rwanda. It derives its title from a March 23, 2009, peace deal, which it accuses the Congo authorities of not implementing.

After being largely dormant for a decade, the M23 resurfaced in late 2021 and began capturing territory. Congo has lengthy accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 group and highly effective voices within the West again that assertion — which Rwanda strongly denies. Earlier this 12 months regional heads of state urged a right away cease-fire by all events and sought extra troops for a regional drive despatched to japanese Congo final 12 months.

Ugandan troops, that are a part of the East African Neighborhood Regional Pressure in japanese Congo, will now attempt to result in M23’s sequenced withdrawal from different areas beneath insurgent management together with Kiwanja and Mabenga.

Bunagana is positioned solely 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast of Goma, which additionally serves as a hub for worldwide support organizations and the U.N. peacekeeping mission often called MONUSCO. The city can be close to the border with Uganda, making it an vital transit level for items being imported into Congo from as far-off as China.

Whereas the withdrawal is a optimistic step, it doesn’t signify a long-lasting decision to the battle, mentioned Trupti Agrawal, senior analyst for East Africa for the Economist Intelligence Unit. “The pullout is an indication of progress on regional mediation efforts, however that itself is a extremely fragile course of,” he mentioned.

Malkia reported from Kinshasa. Related Press reporter Rodney Muhumuza contributed from Kampala, Uganda.