Rebel group M23 in eastern Congo declares willingness to withdraw morality police activities in Iran cease – additional 5 people sentenced to death

The rebels of the M23 movement in eastern Congo have declared their willingness to withdraw from the conquered areas. The group on Tuesday referred to an agreement reached last month by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi on a plan to end violence in the conflict between M23 and Congolese government forces. The rebel movement said it was ready to begin the withdrawal, although it was not involved at the top. She called for a meeting to discuss the modalities.

The rebels initially did not recognize the results of the meeting in the Angolan capital Luanda. The communiqué signed there threatened the M23 movement with an offensive if the rebels did not withdraw from the positions they have held since March.

The M23 movement consists of former Congolese army soldiers who formed a rebel group in 2012. The army defeated the rebels in 2013. Since the end of March this year, however, the rebel movement has again attacked civilians and military installations in eastern Congo and has joined the fight with the Congolese army. Since the end of October, violence between the army and the rebel group M23 in eastern Congo has escalated again.

Most recently, the military blamed M23 for killing civilians in North Kivu province, and the government said more than 270 people were killed in fierce fighting last week. In a phone call on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Rwandan President Paul Kagame to end his country’s support for M23. Rwanda denies involvement.

According to the United States, about 130 different armed groups are said to be active in eastern DR Congo; many of them are concerned with controlling the valuable natural resources. (sda/dpa)