A crucial agreement was signed on Friday, March 28, between General Sultani Makenga, commander of the M23 rebels, an armed group affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC) politico-military movement, and Major General Ibrahim M. Mhona, commander of the troops of the Southern African region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as « SAMIDRC. » ​​This agreement stipulates the immediate withdrawal of SADC troops and their military equipment from Goma International Airport.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The signing of this agreement comes after constructive discussions at the Serena Hotel in Goma, attended by officers from countries that contributed to the SADC (Southern African Development Community) mission and representatives of the AFC/M23. The troop withdrawal aims to allow the reopening of the airport and facilitate the restoration of peace in the region, with SADC support for the maintenance of essential infrastructure.

A step towards peace and stability

The agreement specifies that the mission’s troops from the countries of the Southern African region, as well as their equipment, will withdraw entirely from the area, leaving equipment belonging to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in place. AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka stressed the importance of making Goma airport operational again. He also emphasized that strict adherence to the ceasefire was crucial to fostering a lasting return to peace in the region.

Negotiations with the Congolese Government

This agreement comes amid increasingly intense discussions between the M23 and the DRC government. Although negotiations have already begun under the auspices of the United Nations and the international community, the issue of direct dialogue between the two parties remains a central concern. The M23, which has historically opposed the Congolese authorities, has repeatedly emphasized that there will be no lasting military solution to the crisis. According to the rebels, direct and sincere dialogue with Kinshasa is essential to achieving a stable and lasting peace.

Sources close to the negotiations indicate that several points remain unresolved, including the political status of the M23, which is demanding rights for the Tutsi community in eastern DRC. However, the agreement signed on Friday could mark a turning point, creating a framework of trust that could allow for the resumption of peace talks.

International mediators, as well as regional actors, continue to push for a diplomatic solution that would end hostilities and enable genuine national reconciliation. Discussions are also moving toward concrete measures to improve security and natural resource management in the region, essential elements for easing tensions.

The role of diplomacy

The troop withdrawal agreement comes amid an active search for diplomatic solutions to the war that has been tearing the DRC apart for several years. For the AFC/M23, there is no military solution to the current crisis. The movement believes that direct dialogue with the Kinshasa government remains the only viable path to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

This agreement marks a turning point in the negotiations and could be a prelude to other de-escalation and reconciliation initiatives. In the meantime, observers remain vigilant as this agreement is implemented and all parties involved comply with their commitments.

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Major General Ibrahim M. Mhona and General Sultani Makenga after the signing of the SADC troop withdrawal agreement on March 28 in Goma, the capital of North Kivu in eastern Congo (SOS Médias Burundi)