M23 has modern and more powerful weapons than FARCD and MONUSCO - Amb. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja

The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the United Nations [UN], confirmed that the M23 has come in a new form with more important weapons than the government of this country and MONUSCO.

 

In a speech to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Amb. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja said: "They are back in November 2021 .... They have more combat weapons than MONUSCO and FARDC."

 

"They have the ability to predict air strikes, intimidate North Kivu province and other crimes in other parts of the Congo. Who is supporting them?"

"Rwanda and Uganda are backing them and give them these weapons . That is the only answer." He added.

 

"Why don't the international community and the United Nations try to reconcile this group with the Rwandan government?" He concluded.

 

Rwanda's Representative to the UN, Amb. Gatete Claver, in response to his colleague, said: "The fact that the DRC claims that Rwanda is aiding the M23 is a way to cover up the weaknesses of the administration and to seek to address the country's internal affairs by reporting it to its neighbors."

 

The M23 group, which had been defeated by the Congolese army, FARDC and MONUSCO forces in 2013. But in October 2021, it resumed its reconstruction.

 

Since April this year, the M23 has carried out attacks in Rutshuru territory in North Kivu province, in eastern DR Congo, after nearly 10 years of no major attacks.

 

Each side - the Congolese government forces and the M23 - accuses the other of starting a war.

 

The group has been in control of the town of Bunagana on the Congo-Uganda border since June 13.

 

The DR Congo government accuses the Rwandan government of providing military aid to the M23 rebels - which Rwanda and the M23 deny.

 

The M23 says it is not ready to lay down its arms if there is no immediate talks with the Congolese government.

 

It also said that it was not intimidated by the East African Regional Government (KRG) militant group confirmed this month by the heads of state that it would be sent to fight the M23 and other armed groups in eastern DR Congo.