M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared themselves ready to disarm and pursue a political solution to end the 20-month period of hostilities in the east of the country. The declaration was issued hours after government forces drove rebel fighters out of their last two strongholds on Monday (November 4).
A statement from M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa reads: “The chief of general staff and the commanders of all major units are requested to prepare troops for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration on terms to be agreed with the government of Congo,”
Government spokesman Laurent Mende said many rebel fighters were surrendering after government soldiers seized control of Tshanzu and Runyoni. He added that the Kinshasa government was ready to engage in peace talks.
Envoys monitoring the conflict for the UN, EU and the African Union had urged both sides not to undo progress made in peace talks, saying M23 should renounce its rebellion as agreed and the army should hold off from further military action for now.
The UN special force in the DRC said it fired mortar rounds at M23 rebels on Monday, in what appeared to be its first direct combat against the rebellion since a resumption of hostilities last month. Government troops then drove the rebels from hilltop positions in the east of the country, where they were holed up after being forced from their last stronghold of Bunagana last week. The army said the rebels had been bombing Bunagana and said it showed the ceasefire declaration of the M23 rebel group at the weekend was worthless.
