
“Tuesday- 8 peacekeepers died in a helicopter crash in North Kivu, eastern DRC. The UN MONUSCO says initial findings indicate that the crash was caused by a “luminous object.” The FARDC army and the M23 rebels are blaming each other for the attack on the helicopter” (The Politician Online Magazine East Africa, 30.03.2022).
“Over 13,000 Congolese nationals have reportedly fled to Uganda via Kisoro district following resumed fighting between suspected members of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels and the Congolese government forces in Bwisha chiefdom in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province. According to the residents, heavy fighting erupted in the hills of Runyonyi and Tchanzu in Sabyino mountains of the Virunga ranges, about four kilometres to the Uganda-DR Congo border of Bunagana in Kisoro district around 4 am on Monday morning” (Andre Kapanga, 30.03.2022).
“UPDF reportedly captured dozens of M23 rebels who were fighting to capture Bunagana border town of the RD Congo. Reports indicate that Congolese army &police deserted the town & fled into Uganda as fighting intensified. UPDF Spokesperson earlier said UPDF was securing border point” (Entebbe One, 30.03.2022).
Just as the news and reports of the occupation of parts of North Kivu and attacking Bunagana town, which has been the target of Mouvement du 23 mars/ March 23 Movement (M23) of late. As it was reported on the 28th March that the M23 had captured Runyonyi and Chanzu. Therefore, this is the third day of the resurgence of M23. It is
There are claims back-and-fourth of the backing of the M23. While we know that the M23 historically has had ties to both Kampala and Kigali. The M23 fighters in the past was in cantonment camps within Uganda after receiving amnesty after the Nairobi Declaration.
Therefore, when people question the sudden rise and resurgence. That is all to be expected, as the ammunition and training has come from somewhere. These militants cannot just come out of nowhere and have weapons to shoot down even a helicopter. That says something and shows their possible capacity. As they have occupied territories and did it that quickly.
The FARDC is already stretched as is and they have joint operations to defeat the Allied Defence Force (ADF) together with the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF). While the FARDC also has to contain the CODECO in the Ituri region as well. It is not like the FARDC only has the M23 to worry about. There are several of other militias in Kivu’s too.
The FARDC isn’t alone on fighting M23, but reported that yesterday the UPDF has joined the FARDC in attacking M23 from the Ugandan border and they are participating in skirmishes in Rutshuru. There is also very few reports and saying there is a lack of FARDC soldiers on the ground there.
These are the FDLR (CNRD), Mai-Mai and the NDC- Rénové. Therefore, the various of parts of Kivu has militias already and M23 is just the most flaring up shot. That is creating a crisis and clearly headlines in international press.
M23 is a creation of Kigali and Kampala in the past. We can just wonder who is behind it this time. The M23 is claiming in their recent press release yesterday that the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) shot down the helicopter. If that is true… than there is even more problems ahead. As there are so many armies, militias and whatnot active there.
The citizens and people of North Kivu is caught into the cross-fire and the ones able is fleeing to Uganda. That is the tragedy here. People are killed, areas being left behind and a continued war in a war-torn region. Where militias are fighting for control and get their slice of the illegal trade of the minerals from this province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Peace.













