UN internal report indicates east Congo rebels flouting ceasefire and withdrawal deal

• JMAC stated that “their total withdrawal from the area has not yet been confirmed”.
• M23 denied reports that it had not left Kibumba on Wednesday.
• The EAC postponed the ceremony for full withdrawal until next week.

According to internal United Nations (UN) documents released on Thursday, intelligence experts have suspected M23 rebel movements in areas of eastern Congo from where they were supposed to have withdrawn as well as indications the armed organization has gained strength in other places.

The results demonstrate that there is still doubt over both the precise state of the violence in the North Kivu province and the actual circumstances in the Kibumba district, where the rebels were supposed to have left as of Dec. 23 as part of a truce mediated by East African regional leaders.

The Joint Mission Analysis Centre (JMAC), a UN intelligence agency, stated in a private assessment covering the time period from December 26 to January 3 that “their total withdrawal from the area has not yet been confirmed.”

“Suspected M23 movements were still sighted in the area,” it added.

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The study also cites instances in which M23 has brutally seized additional territory elsewhere even after taking part in the ceremony to hand over Kibumba to East African Community (EAC) forces as part of the ceasefire, which they said was a show of goodwill.

“Several clashes involving M23 were reported during the week, resulting in M23 taking control of further areas, notably threatening Kitchanga, Mweso, Sake, Kilorirwe, Mushaki and Nyamilima, and raising serious PoC (Protection of Civilian) concerns.”

The M23 denied reports that it had not left Kibumba on Wednesday, claiming that it had left those positions as of December 23 and was committed to the November agreement reached by regional leaders, which called for the M23 to leave recently taken positions and allow thousands of displaced people to return to their homes.

The government of Congo, Western powers, and a UN expert committee allege that neighboring Rwanda supports the Tutsi-led rebel group, which last year’s fresh attack resulted in at least 450,000 people being displaced.

Despite Rwanda’s vehement denials, the claims have sparked a serious diplomatic crisis in the area.

The evacuation was effective, however this week, an EAC force official told the media that “a few administrative non-combatant elements from M23 on the outskirts of Kibumba are in the final phase of withdrawal.”

President Felix Tshisekedi remains committed to the ceasefire agreement, according to presidential spokesperson Tina Salama, who spoke to the media last week.

“We all know they (the M23) have not completely withdrawn,” she said, adding that rebels technically had until Jan. 15 for the full withdrawal. “There will be a reassessment at that time.”

By this Thursday, the M23 was also supposed to have left the important military town of Rumangabo, but on Wednesday, the EAC postponed the ceremony as it was still evaluating the security situation.

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