Rwanda-backed M23 leads military parade ahead of peace deal

A military parade on September 14th in the city of Goma, eastern Congo, saw the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group showcase more than 7,000 new recruits.

According to Africa News with AP, the parade has raised concerns amongst residents and experts over the impending peace deal between Congo and Rwanda. The agreement is expected to determine the fate of the M23 rebels, whom UN investigators say have been reinforced by around 4,000 troops from Rwanda.

Both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda voiced commitment to peace talks on  September 3rd after talks in June fell apart. However, pockets of skirmishes have recently been reported between the M23 and government-aligned groups. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.

A key pillar to the peace deal, which is set to be signed in Washington within the next few weeks, is the withdrawal of Rwandan support to the rebel group. The deal is also expected to dictate the return of territories to the Congolese government. 

Reports indicate that the M23 group’s show of force was a blow to residents’ hopes in rebel-held cities who were looking forward to the peace agreement bringing an end to the conflict, which has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises. Over seven million people have been displaced, and at least 3,000 have been killed.

Senior campaigner with Amnesty International, Christian Rumu, has outlined how the parade “might affect the peaceful process that both the DRC, Rwanda, and M23 are trying to reach through the Doha and Washington processes.”

The parade saw M23 showcasing 7,000 new recruits which they claim include Congolese soldiers who surrendered when fighting escalated this year, and the local militia members who fought with them. However, rights groups have explained they fear soldiers and young residents are being pressured to join.

“We are still concerned about forced recruitment that we have documented since the take over of the M23 in North Kivu and South Kivu, and those concerns as well have been highlighted by the recent report by the fact-finding mission of the UN Human Rights Council recently in September,” Rumu added.

The report by the UN Human Rights Council, launched in February this year to investigate violations on both sides, revealed “horrific atrocities” in eastern Congo over the last year committed by both Congo’s armed forces and M23 rebels.

The report documented atrocities including gang rape, sexual slavery, torture, killing of civilians and other crimes. It adds that both Congo and Rwanda bear responsibility.

AfricaNews with AP, Maghrebi.org