The United Nations (UN) has revealed that the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) has not yet found evidences proving that a foreign country might have supported the resurgence of M23 in clashes with Congolese Army (FARDC).

The EJVM is a mechanism of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) composed of military officers from the 12 member countries that is charged with monitoring and verification of border violations between DRC and neighbouring countries.

A new report of UN experts on security issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seems to contradict the country’s accusations that Rwanda supports M23.

DRC started accusing Rwanda as the fighting between M23 rebel group and FARDC erupted in the past few months.

The report indicated that ‘the resurgence of M23 was fuelled by failure to implement peace accords of 12th December 2013’.

It also reads that M23 held talks with DRC Government but were called off in September 2020.

The negotiations had prompted M23 to release a statement announcing that dialogues between the regime of President Tshisekedi were promising to yield good results.

As the report shows, M23 was represented by a delegation including Benjamin Mbonimpa, Laurens Kanyuka and Castro Mbera during negotiations.

It further reveals that M23 had not resumed fighting until November 2021 when it launched an attack on FARDC military position that saw the rebel group killing soldiers and stealing arms, military uniforms and telecommunication gadgets.

The experts went on explaining that M23 plotted more attacks on FARDC bases in Rutshuru one month later and January 2022. Since then, the report indicates that M23 attacked more regions including Tshanzu, Gisiza, Ndiza and Runyoni.

No evidences pinning Rwanda

Following attacks plotted by M23 between January and March 2022, FARDC started putting forward speculations that the rebel group is comprised of Rwanda’s special forces.

On 28th March 2022, the Spokesperson of North Kivu announced that M23 on the support of Rwanda raided FARDC bases in Tshanzu and Runyoni.

The UN report indicates that sources from EJVM do not point out any involvement of foreign countries in the resurgence of M23.

During a recent interview with DW; the Spokesperson of M23, Maj Willy Ngoma said that the rebel group M23 didn’t receive any support.

He disclosed that some of used weapons were kept in their hideouts after defeat in 2013 while others are bought from Congolese soldiers or seized during the ongoing fight.

Ngoma revealed that fighters also sell part of their properties including houses and cars to buy weapons.

Maj Willy Ngoma surrounded by his men.