M23 rebels have announced they will immediately take over areas vacated by the East African Community Regional Force(EACRF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
EACRF on Sunday started its withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo after Kinshasa refused to renew its mandate.
However, in a statement, M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka said the rebel group will immediately take over the areas being vacated by the regional peacekeeping force.
“Following the departure of the EACRF from DRC, for the well-being of the civilian population, the M23 will recover and occupy all its areas that it handed over to EACRF at the beginning of the peace process,”Kanyuka said.
The rebel group however pledged to protect civilians within these areas but said will defend itself if attacked.
“The M23 reiterates its commitment to resolve peacefully the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC and will
not spare any effort to protect the civilian population and to defend itself professionally.”
The East African Community Regional Force on Sunday started leaving areas they were occupying after expiry of their mandate.
East African heads of state earlier last year agreed to have a regional troop deployment in DRC amidst the increased tension caused by the fighting between M23 rebels and government troops.
The regional troops would later help secure several areas which were previously in the hands of the M23 rebels but also occupied those vacated by the rebels.
The four countries of Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan forces covered vast areas, most previously under M23 rebels.
However last month, following a summit on 25 November, the East African Community announced that the DRC “would not renew the mandate of the regional force beyond 8 December 2023”.
This coincided with an agreement signed by DRC allowing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) force to replace the departing EAC Regional Force.
