AFC/M23 Rebels Officially Put Uvira City Under Responsibility Of International Community

The Congo River Alliance / March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) said on Thursday it has officially placed Uvira city in DRC’s South Kivu Province, under the full and complete responsibility of the international community.

The rebels said they would want a neutral force to be deployed in Uvira to protect the civilian population.

This decision was formally brought to the attention of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, through an official letter signed by the Political Coordinator of the AFC, Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo.

According to Nangaa this initiative reflects the clear willingness of the rebels to fully respect the ceasefire currently in effect and to support a peaceful and political resolution to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Through this gesture, the movement underscores its determination to act transparently and responsibly, by entrusting the security and protection of civilian populations to a neutral, legitimate international body mandated by the global community,” Nangaa said.

“By withdrawing our observation and monitoring unit and disengaging from any operational responsibility in Uvira, the AFC/M23 sends a clear diplomatic message: peace and the security of the civilian population are an absolute priority, and their protection now falls under the responsibility of the international community, in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law,” Nangaa noted.

The rebels however express concern over the presence of the Burundian army, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), so-called Wazalendo armed groups, as well as mercenaries supporting certain factions of the FARDC, constitutes a tangible threat to civilian populations and to the ongoing peace process.

“These actors are not parties to any recognized peace agreement, and their activities seriously undermine regional security and stability,” the rebels said.

“The AFC/M23 issues an urgent call to the international community to fully assume its responsibilities and ensure the immediate deployment of a truly neutral and effective force in Uvira. The objective is clear: to guarantee civilian protection, prevent any escalation of violence, and ensure the continuity of diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Nangaa said.