A de facto ceasefire between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in Walikale, eastern Congo, has collapsed, with the rebels failing to honor their pledge to withdraw. The situation escalated after the rebels accused the Congolese army of not fulfilling its commitments, further jeopardizing the already fragile peace process.
The M23 rebels, who had seized control of Walikale last week, initially agreed to pull back from the strategic town, offering a brief glimpse of hope for diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict. However, less than two days after the announcement of a ceasefire and the army’s promise not to attack, the arrangement began to unravel.
Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the M23’s Congo River Alliance (AFC), accused the Congolese army and allied militias of failing to withdraw their attack drones from the area, thus preventing the repositioning of rebel forces. He warned that this violation could derail peace efforts and delay the implementation of the ceasefire.
Residents of Walikale confirmed that, despite the announced ceasefire, rebel fighters remained in the town. One anonymous source stated, “They haven’t moved. They are still visible in the centre of town,” fueling concerns about the truce’s viability.
The ongoing conflict, rooted in the fallout from the 1994 Rwandan genocide and competition for control over mineral resources, has resulted in the rebel control of two major cities in eastern Congo and caused thousands of deaths. Diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis have repeatedly failed, and the region remains on edge, with fears of further escalation.
Negotiations between the Congolese government and the rebels were scheduled to take place in Angola last week, but the M23 withdrew from the talks in protest of European Union sanctions imposed on its leaders and Rwandan officials. Angola, which had been facilitating the peace process, announced it would withdraw from its mediation role, citing the need to focus on broader African Union priorities. Another African nation will now step in to continue the mediation.
Despite efforts from Congo and Rwanda’s leaders to find common ground, M23 has rejected the ceasefire calls from both presidents, further complicating the diplomatic efforts. Rwanda continues to deny allegations of supporting the rebels, insisting its military actions are in response to threats from Congo’s forces and militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
