The M23 rebels on Wednesday, February 7, warned that although they have no intention to seize eastern DR Congo’s major city of Goma, their forces will deal with continued artillery and air attacks mounted on civilians by the Congolese government’s military coalition at their source.
The rebels’ announcement on X (formerly known as twitter) follows reports saying that M23 seeks to seize Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province which borders Rwanda and Uganda.
On February 6 and 7, Al Jazeera reported that concern is growing in DR Congo after M23 rebels encircled the strategic town of Sake, a small town located at the northwestern extremity of Lake Kivu, just about 25 kilometers northwest of Goma. It is reported that the Congolese army coalition and UN peacekeepers have been struggling to contain the armed group’s advance on Goma.
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A statement issued on February 7 by M23 Spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said: "The M23 has no intention to seize Goma contrary to Kinshasa state-sponsored propaganda.
"However, artillery and air attacks targeting our forces and/or indiscriminate shelling of civilian populations will be dealt with at their source."
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Committed to peaceful solution and prepared to withdraw
M23 said it made the clarifications "regarding the defensive manoeuvres it has been forced to make due to the continued attacks and slaughtering of civilians by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime" namely FARDC, the Rwandan genocidal group, FDLR, European mercenaries, other Congolese militias, the Burundi National Defence Forces and the troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.
"The M23 remains committed to a peaceful solution and is prepared to withdraw from forward positions if a monitored ceasefire and a credible verification mechanism are in place. The M23 reiterates that it is seeking a solution through a political dialogue, and calls on regional and international leaders to support this effort,” adds the statement.
In January, M23 rebels also accused the government-led coalition of using drones to target civilians and their properties.
The US has called for dialogue between the Congolese government and armed groups as the M23 rebels advance towards Goma. The US State Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller on Tuesday said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked to former Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta about establishing a pathway to reconciliation with armed groups.
"Blinken spoke with former Kenyan president Kenyatta about the conflict in Eastern DRC and the importance of providing a pathway to reconciliation with armed groups. The Nairobi process and the assistance of regional leaders are vital to resolving the conflict,” Miller posted on his X, formerly Twitter, handle.