Thousands flees homes as Army Fights with M23 Rebels in DRC

(NAIROBI) – Thousand of people have fled Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following intense fighting between M23 Rebels and Congolese National Army.

The rebels which have become a security nightmare in DRC has once again risen to put a test to President Felix Tshisekedi’s government.

The fights comes barely a month after Tshisekedi won presidential election in December. Tshisekedi who just began his second term as president had promised Congolese people that he will deal with M23 rebels.

The ongoing fights between M23 and Congolese National Army puts Tshisekedi on a test on whether he can bring the fights in Eastern DRC to an end. This comes at a time the regional forces from neighbouring countries, who have been assisting DRC to fight the rebels are set to leave the country before the end of 2024.

Read: Ivory coast to host Nigeria in the finals AFCON

Jean-Piere Lacroix, Under-UN Secretary General for Peace Operations told Al Jazeera that the situation in DRC is “alarming and worrying” adding that it “raises the risk of regional explosion” especially with involvement of different countries in the region.

Who are M23 Rebels?

M23 rebels, also known as March 23 terrorist group was formed by military soldiers who participated in a mutiny from Congolese National Army in 2012. These soldiers were part of National Congress for the Defense of the People (Congrès national pour la défense du peuple, CNDP).

Between 4 April 2012 and 7 November 2013, the Congolese National Army engaged in a serious fight with M23 rebels in Northern Kivu in DRC. At that time M23 was accused of recruiting and using children to fight. The move is an outright violation of Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) which was enacted in 2008 to stop recruitment and use of children as fighters.

ALSO READ: Fire Explosion in Embakasi leaves many injured

Many reports have linked M23 to Rwanda Defense Forces for allegedly supporting and arming this terrorist group. In October 2023, United States had suspended military aid to Rwanda alleging that Rwanda was supporting M23 rebels. Rwanda has however, come out to deny the claims that it’s supporting M23.

All eyes are now on Tshisekedi’s government to see if it can eradicate the M23 rebels which has become a serious threat to DRC’s security for more than a decade.