The AFC/M23 movement has formally appealed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to deploy a neutral force to Uvira in eastern DR Congo, citing security threats following its withdrawal from the city last month.
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The rebels, who forces captured Uvira in early December and announced a unilateral withdrawal to support the Doha Peace Process, said the city in South Kivu province risked falling back into the control of the government coalition that includes Burundian troops, genocidal FDLR and Wazalendo militias.
In a letter to Guterres dated Thursday, January 15, AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa said they had formally placed the strategic city under the responsibility of the international community, citing their continued commitment to the ceasefire and a political resolution of the crisis.
"Motivated by our constant concern to remove any ambiguity regarding our good faith, our sincere commitment to the ceasefire in force, and our firm dedication to a peaceful and political resolution of the crisis, our organization, the AFC/M23, has decided today to officially place the city of Uvira under the full responsibility of the International Community,” Nangaa wrote in the leaked letter seen by The New Times.
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He stated that the movement had relinquished all responsibility for the city’s security. He added that they wrote to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in DR Congo, inviting the UN mission MONUSCO "to ensure the protection of the civilian population&039; of Uvira.
"As of this date," Nangaa said, "the organization disengages the observation and monitoring unit that was awaiting to organize the handover of the city with the neutral force, and we decline all responsibility regarding the security of this important urban center in the province of South Kivu."
"It is henceforth incumbent upon the International Community, within the framework of its responsibilities and commitments, to ensure the protection of civilians, the preservation of peace, and the security of all inhabitants of Uvira, without any discrimination.”
However, during the Doha talks, the Congolese government has previously rejected the proposal of the deployment of a neutral force.
The movement warned that the continued presence of Burundian forces, FDLR fighters, Wazalendo militias, and foreign mercenaries supporting the Congolese army posed a direct threat to civilians and regional stability.
"These armed actors are not parties to any commitment arising from a peace process," he said. "Their presence and activities represent a direct and immediate threat not only to the civilian population, but also to the ongoing peace process and to regional stability as a whole.”
Sign of good faith
AFC/M23 said the handover of Uvira to the international community is a demonstration of its commitment to peace.
"This initiative reflects the clear will of the AFC/M23 to fully respect the ceasefire currently in force and to support a peaceful and political resolution of the crisis in eastern DR Congo,” reads part of a statement posted on X on Friday.
"Through this gesture, the movement underscores its determination to act transparently and responsibly, entrusting the security and protection of civilians to a neutral, legitimate body mandated by the international community.”
The movement added that by disengaging from any operational responsibility in Uvira, it was sending a clear diplomatic message that civilian protection must now rest with the international community, in line with international humanitarian law.