With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The M23 has not yet put away the weapons, a few hours after the announcement of the entry into force of a ceasefire this Tuesday, March 7. If he promises not to carry out new offensives, he reserves, he says, the full right to defend himself if his positions are attacked. Moreover, the fighting continued around the city of Saké, around Goma, again on Tuesday afternoon. Apart from new displacements of civilian populations, several sources report wounded by bullets and explosives in the area.
This is not the first time that the M23 decrees a ceasefire which is not followed up. More than anything else, at this stage, the movement expects the opening of a direct dialogue with the government. A posture that does not help Kinshasa, which conditions any dialogue with this group, under United Nations sanctions, by the withdrawal of its fighters from all occupied areas.
Clearly, the M23 must first withdraw and regroup at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo, on the border between the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda, before hoping for a gesture from the government. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.
► To read also: “Direct contacts were made on February 28 with the M23”, says Angolan President João Lourenço