Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) eastern city of Goma used tear gas to disperse protest attendees who were calling for the enforcement of a withdrawal of M23 rebels from occupied territory in the region.
The protesters were demonstrating against delays in implementing the withdrawal, which had been agreed upon in a ceasefire in November. The M23 group, which had launched a fresh offensive last year, was supposed to pull out of recently captured positions by January 15th.
However, they have been accused of flouting the deal and occupying other territory to compensate for withdrawals that have been criticized as mainly ceremonial. Civil society groups organized the protests in Goma, where police also arrested around a dozen people, including three journalists.
Protests in DRC’s North Kivu Province
Protests in the North Kivu province of DRC against the M23 rebel group are a common occurrence due to a number of factors. The M23, a Tutsi-led group, launched a fresh offensive in the region in 2012 and has been accused of occupying territory and committing human rights abuses. This has led to widespread displacement of civilians and a humanitarian crisis.
One of the main reasons for the protests is the failure of the DRC government and international community to effectively address the conflict and bring about peace. In November 2012, regional leaders brokered a ceasefire, under which the M23 was meant to pull out of recently captured positions. However, the group has been accused of flouting the deal and occupying territory elsewhere to compensate for withdrawals that have been criticized as mainly ceremonial.
Furthermore, the DRC government has been criticized for its handling of the crisis, with accusations of corruption and a lack of political will to address the issue. The UN peacekeeping mission in the region, MONUSCO, has also been criticized for failing to protect civilians and for its inability to effectively disarm and demobilize armed groups.
The M23’s latest offensive has displaced at least 450,000 people and set off a diplomatic crisis between DRC and neighboring Rwanda. The DRC has accused Rwanda of exacerbating the conflict by supporting the rebels, an accusation also levelled by Western powers and United Nations experts. Rwanda has denied the claims.
The failure of the DRC government and international community to effectively address the conflict has led to frustration and anger among the local population, who have organized protests calling for the withdrawal of the M23 and the enforcement of the ceasefire agreement.
In addition, the protests in Goma are also directed at the East African Community (EAC), which set up a regional military force last year to end the unrest. These protests also call for EAC forces to leave the city and to wage offensives against the M23. The occurance of protests in DRC’s North Kivu is only likely to worsen over the coming weeks and months given heightened tensions.
Image Credit:Djaffar Sabiti/Reuters
