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M23 rebellion

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2012 East D.R. Congo conflict
Part of Kivu conflict

Map showing the position of North-Kivu province.
Date4 April 2012 – ongoing
(12 years, 2 months and 1 week)
Location
North Kivu, eastern D.R. Congo
Status Ongoing (M23 rebels take control of Goma and several towns in North Kivu)
Belligerents

March 23 Movement
Allegedly supported by:
 Rwanda[1]

 Uganda[1]		 Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of Congo
 United Nations
File:Logo of the FDLR.jpg FDLR
Democratic Republic of the Congo Mai-Mai militias
Hutu-aligned forces
Commanders and leaders
Bosco Ntaganda
Sultani Makenga		 Democratic Republic of the Congo Joseph Kabila
Strength
5,500+ army and police defectors[2][3] 10,000 D.R. Congolese soldiers
4,000 U.N. peacekeepers in North Kivu[4]
Casualties and losses
Unknown; 350 killed, 250 wounded, 374 captured (by November 21; government claim)[5][6] Unknown; 40 killed, 93 wounded[5] and 600 deserted/defected (by November 21; government claim)[7]
1 Indian UN peacekeeper killed

The 2012 East Democratic Republic of Congo conflict is a continuation of fighting that has gone on in North Kivu Province since the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2002–03. In April 2012, ethnic Tutsi soldiers mutinied against the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutineers formed a rebel group called the March 23 Movement (M23), composed of former members of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). Former CNDP commander Bosco Ntaganda, known as "the Terminator" is accused of leading the mutiny.[8] On 20 November 2012, M23 took control of Goma, a provincial capital with a population of one million people.[9]

Background

See also: Kivu conflict and Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, 2011

In March 2009, the CNDP signed a peace treaty with the government, in which it agreed to become a political party in exchange for the release of its imprisoned members.[10] On 4 April 2012, it was reported that Ntaganda and 300 loyal troops defected from the DRC and clashed with government forces in the Rutshuru region North of Goma.[11] According to M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarma, the defection was due to Kabila's cheating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, 2011.[12]

Congo Siasa's Jason Stearns reported on 4 May 2012 that Colonel Sultani Makenga had joined the CNDP/M23 mutiny. Starns commented that '[t]his is a significant development, since Makenga was the second highest ranking CNDP officer behind Bosco in the Amani Leo structure as the deputy commander of South Kivu.'[13][self-published source]

A UN report stated that the rebels were getting support from Rwanda.[14] According to the DR Congo government, 25 Rwandan members of M23 have surrendered to Congolese forces as part of a total of over 370 M23 soldiers that have allegedly surrendered by June 25.[15] Rwanda denied that it was backing the rebels, calling the accusation an attempt to make the nation a "scapegoat" for DRC's problems.[16]

Beginning of hostilities

On 6 July 2012, M23 attacked and took the town of Bunagana less than a kilometer from the border with Uganda. Some 600 DRC troops fled across the border and took refuge in Uganda. The rebels issued a statement that they would cease their offensive if the government agreed to holding peace talks with them. The United Nations condemned rebel attacks in the region after an Indian peacekeeper was killed in the fighting.[17]

On 8 July, the rebels captured Rutshuru, 70 kilometers north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. By 10 July, they were 40 kilometers from Goma itself. Witnesses said rebels appeared to be taking towns and villages with ease, with government troops usually melting away.[18] The towns of Rubare and Ntamugenga had also reportedly fallen to the rebels.[19]

On 20 July, M23 and government forces exchanged heavy weapons fire around Kibumba and Rugari, forcing thousands of civilians to flee towards Goma. UN helicopter gunships were seen headed towards the front line. The security situation in eastern Congo was described as rapidly becoming worse.[20]

The U.S. government announced on 21 July that it would cut military aid to Rwanda.[21] U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen Rapp stated that Rwandan authorities could be charged for "aiding and abetting" war crimes: "There is a line that one can cross under international law where you can be held responsible for aiding a group in a way that makes possible their commission of atrocities."[22]

November M23 offensive

Fighting broke out again in November 2012, with reports of heavy gunfire and explosions near Goma. Both sides blamed the other for the outbreak of hostilities. Government forces claimed M23 rebels suffered 110 dead, a claim the rebels rebuked. Government forces reportedly used tanks and helicopters in the fighting, which saw rebels advance closer to Goma nevertheless.[6]

On 15 November, MONUSCO helicopter gunships were deployed to support government forces as they fought to hold off a rebel attack south of Kibumba; the combined army and UN assault killed approximately 64 M23 fighters.[23] However, the rebel advance put them within 18 miles of Goma. The army retreated under heavy fire to the southern outskirts of Kibumba after being forced back by the rebels according to the provincial governor. The government army began to regroup around the nearby town of Kilimanyoka after the retreat. Later on rebels claimed to have seized control of Kibumba but said they had no plans on attacking Goma.[24] A UN spokesman told that the M23 appeared to be well equipped with night vision equipment and 120mm mortars.[25]

On 18 November, it was reported that Congolese troops and the administration were leaving Goma in a hurry as M23 was at the gates of the city. The North Kivu governor left on a boat in route to the South Kivu. The United Nations troops did not react when the rebels bypassed their camp on the road to Goma.[26] The following day, M23 demanded that the Congolese government open peace talks, or face an escalation of fighting.[27] On the same day, Rwanda claimed that Congelese government forces fired tank[28] and mortar shells across the border into its territory.[29] The DRC confirmed the incident, but claimed that Rwanda shelled its own territory to justify a wider-scale intervention in the DRC.[30]

Battle of Goma

M23 rebels in Goma
M23 rebels withdraw from Goma after it captured the city in November 2012.

M23 forces began an assault against army positions in Goma on 19 November, sending mortar shells and machine gun fire into the city which was still being defended by the government army. M23 spokesman Lt. Col. Vianney Kazarma said "Fighting is already taking place on the streets of Goma this morning." The DRC government spokesman confirmed the claim saying, "We have yet to stop this attack; they have not taken Goma yet." Congolese army units were reported to be holding defensive positions in the city centre and the airport armed with tanks and machine guns.

M23 forces entered the city proper on 20 November, advancing on foot up the main road towards the city centre. Heavy bursts of small arms fire could be heard in the city and near the airport. M23 was reported to have captured the Goma International Airport.[31] Though other reports claimed that UN forces retained control of the airport, with Lt. Gen. Chandar Prakash, commander of UN forces in the area claiming that M23 attacked the peacekeepers but were repelled.[31] M23 moved in two columns past Sake, eventually capturing most of Goma as well as a nearby border post with Rwanda. Some government soldiers took off their uniforms before fleeing the city.[32] By late morning, Congolese government troops had been forced back to the west of the city, with many abandoning their positions and withdrawing westwards from Goma entirely. Police officers stood down at the border as M23 took over the immigration offices.[33]

M23 made a statement later on announcing: "The town of Goma fell at 11:33 local time, despite the attack helicopters, despite the heavy weapons, the FARDC (Congo army) has let the town fall into our hands". Reuters reports on the scene confirmed that heavily armed M23 soldiers were present and walking through the city unchallenged, and that the UN peacekeepers present were not resisting the M23 advance through the city. A small group of residents came onto the streets to greet the rebel takeover.[34]

UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said peacekeepers "cannot substitute" for the national army, adding that the 1,500 UN troops in Goma held their fire because they did not want to risk civilian lives.[31] DR Congo president Joseph Kabila urged the city's people to "resist" the group's takeover.[35] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized M23 for alleged human rights violations during the takeover, including destruction of property, "intimidation of journalists", and the abduction of women and children.[36] Noting that the First Congo War had begun with fighting in the same region, the New York Times described Goma's takeover as "raising serious questions about the stability of Congo as a whole."[37]

Continued M23 advance and failed government counterattack

Almost 3,000 members of the Congolese army and police forces switched sides in Goma on 20 November and joined the rebellion as M23 continued its advance, seizing control of the town of Sake and stating that it intends to overthrow the national government. M23 forces began advancing towards the town of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu state on 21 November.[3] They announced their next intended target after Bukavu as the city of Kisangani.[38]

Government forces, despite having withdrawn from Sake, launched a counterattack to retake the city on 22 November leading to heavy clashes with M23 forces there. Subsequently, deaths and injuries were reported.[39] The surprise counterattack was badly beaten by the rebels and thousands of hungry and demoralized government soldiers fled back in disarray to the town of Minova, around 50km from Goma, where they got drunk and reportedly began raping, looting and threatening civilians, the allegations confirmed by an UN source for The Guardian which described them as "angry and paranoid" and contrasted their appearance to the apparent discipline among the rebels.[40]

The conflict has forced more than 140,000 people to flee their homes, according to the U.N. refugee agency, on top of those already forced from their homes by previous rounds of fighting in the region.[41]

Peace negotiations

According to the chief of Uganda People's Defence Force, M23 leader met with him and agreed to let him mediate, which resulted in M23 agreeing to withdrawing their forces from Goma and Sake in principle, although a timeframe did not appear to have been agreed upon.[42] However, a DRC military spokesman claimed that M23 had refused to abandon Goma and said: "They (the M23 rebels) have refused to leave the city of Goma. This is a declaration of war, and we intend to resume combat."[43] However, the next day the situation appeared to ease, with M23 agreeing to a withdrawal from captured territory, with the intention of eventually leaving Goma and returning to their original positions before they took the city.[44]

Om 30 November UK's international development secretary Justine Greening declared that UK government decided to withhold a multimillion-dollar aid payment to Rwanda over allegations that it is backing M23 rebels. Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo replied that the measure "is based on allegations of faulty reports which we have said for the last six months are wrong"[45]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b According to a leaked U.N. report. "Rwanda defence chief leads DR Congo rebels, UN report says". BBC. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Mike Pflanz (20 November 2012). "DRC rebels capture Goma without firing a shot". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "Rebels vow to take all of Congo, as army troops and police defect in Goma". CTV News. Associated Press. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "DR Congo rebels take new town despite UN attacks". AFP via The News Tribe. 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b "Al menos 240 muertos en Congo tras combate entre Ejército y amotinados" (in Spanish). RPP Noticias. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b "UN calls for end to DR Congo violence". Al Jazeera English. 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Albert Kambale (8 July 2012). "DR Congo rebel chief pledges to withdraw from captured towns". AFP. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "DR Congo troops shell rebel bases". Al Jazeera English. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  10. ^ "DR Congo government, CNDP rebels 'sign peace deal'". Google News. Agence France-Presse. 23 March 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Melanie Gouby (4 April 2012). "Congo-Kinshasa: General Ntaganda and Loyalists Desert Armed Forces". allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Phil Moore (21 November 2012). "DRC rebels vow not to stop at Goma, say Kabila must go". The Jakarta Globe. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Jason Stearns (4 May 2012). "Col. Makenga Joins Rebellion". congosiasa.blogspot.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Rwanda 'supporting DR Congo mutineers'". BBC News. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Clashes in eastern DR Congo claim lives". Al Jazeera. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "DRC conflict leads US to stop military aid for Rwanda". Radio Netherlands. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Justin Dralaze (7 July 2012). "Congo rebels offer peace talks with government". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "DR Congo rebels 'advance on Goma'". BBC News. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Oliver Farry (7 September 2012). "DR Congo rebels seize strategic town of Rutshuru". France 24. Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Kenny Katombe (24 July 2012). "Thousands flee heavy fighting between Congo army, rebels". Reuters India. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Joe Bavier (21 July 2012). "U.S. cuts military aid to Rwanda over Congo rebel support". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Chris McGreal (25 July 2012). "Rwanda's Paul Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "UN defends failed attempt to halt capture of Congo's Goma". Reuters. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Jonny Hogg (17 November 2012). "U.N. attack helicopters hit rebels in eastern Congo". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  26. ^ "RD Congo : militaires et autorités fuient Goma face à l'avancée des rebelles". AFP via Romandie. 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "DR. Congo rebels give 24-hour talks ultimatum". AFP. 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  29. ^ Katrina Manson (19 November 2012). "Congo rebels attack Goma". FT. Retrieved 20 November 2012. (subscription required)
  30. ^ Jonny Hogg (19 November 2012). "Rwanda accuses Congo of shelling border town". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ a b c "DR Congo M23 rebels 'enter Goma city'". BBC News. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "DRC Army Accepts Defeat". IGIHE. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Pete Jones and David Smith (20 November 2012). "Goma falls to Congo rebels". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ Jonny Hogg (20 November 2012). "Congo rebels seize eastern city as U.N. forces look on". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "Goma: M23 rebels capture DR Congo city". BBC News. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  38. ^ David Blair (21 November 2012). "Congo dispatch: Goma cowers under rule of its new masters". Telegraph.
  39. ^ Edmund Kagire, Melanie Gouby (22 November 2012). "Congo rebels, military battle over town of Sake; rebels vow to press ahead with offensive". Lethbridge Herald. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  40. ^ Congo's army accused of rape and looting as M23 rebels win image war: Congolese soldiers 'drunk, angry and paranoid' in contrast to apparent order of rebels, but both sides accused of abuses | World news | The Guardian
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  45. ^ Laura Smith-Spark and David McKenzie (30 November 2012). "UK withholds Rwanda aid over claims it backs Congo rebels". CNN. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
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