By Our Reporter
Tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have intensified following a statement from the M23 rebel group, now operating under the political umbrella of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC).
The group has strongly denounced recent coordinated military operations carried out near Goma by the Congolese army (FARDC), regional forces under SAMIDRC, fighters from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and local Wazalendo militias.
In a communiqué released on April 11, AFC spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the coalition of endangering civilians and breaching existing agreements brokered under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) framework.
He described the offensive as a destabilizing act that undermines efforts to restore basic infrastructure and secure peace in the region.
Kanyuka asserted that M23 fighters successfully repelled the attempt by Kinshasa-aligned forces to regain strategic positions around Goma, including areas adjacent to the airport.
He warned that continued military pressure would only deepen the crisis and derail progress made in rehabilitating key installations.
Among the group’s most pressing demands is the immediate pullout of SAMIDRC troops from the region.
The AFC also called for the surrender of FARDC personnel allegedly being harbored at United Nations MONUSCO facilities, raising concerns about the neutrality of the international peacekeeping presence.
Observers see these demands as a sign of mounting tensions between the rebel group and international stakeholders, with the potential to trigger a wider confrontation.
The AFC insists it remains committed to protecting civilians in areas under its control, though this claim is met with skepticism by critics who accuse M23 of fueling conflict and exacerbating humanitarian suffering.
While the group maintains it has exercised restraint in recent months, it now suggests it may alter its strategy in response to what it views as continued provocation.
The situation around Goma remains fragile, with fears growing that renewed fighting could spill into populated areas and reverse hard-won gains toward stability.
As the DRC government, regional partners, and international actors scramble to contain the fallout, the prospect of meaningful dialogue appears increasingly remote.
With diplomatic channels strained and military tensions high, the region stands at a precarious crossroads once again.
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