Rwanda backed M23 rebels have not withdrawn from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Uvira despite an announcement earlier this week that they would pull back, residents told Reuters on Wednesday.
M23 Spokesperson Willy Ngoma told Reuters on Wednesday that “we are ready to leave (Uvira), but our conditions have to be reviewed”.
Ngoma added that the citizens of Uvira needed protecting and it should be occupied by a neutral force.
The rebels had said on Monday they would withdraw to help efforts by United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration and Qatar to mediate peace in the long-running war between the rebels and government forces in DRC.
M23 entered Uvira, near the Burundi border, earlier this month, less than a week after the Presidents of DRC and Rwanda met with Trump in Washington to reaffirm their commitment to the Washington Accords peace agreement.
The US has criticised seizure of the town as a threat to mediation efforts.
–Reuters–
