The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bintou Keita, announced that the territory controlled by the M23 armed group is now double the number it controlled in 2012.
This information was given to the United Nations Security Council on December 9, 2024, when it explained the security situation in Eastern DRC.
Bintou said, “M23 continues to control parts of North Kivu both civilly and militarily. It now controls many parts of Masisi, Rutshuru, Walikale, Nyiragongo and Lubero territories; double what he controlled in 2012.”
M23 was born in 2012 after the DRC government refused to honor the peace agreement it made with the former CNDP in 2009, which was led by Gen Laurent Nkunda.
Before its collapse in 2013, M23 first took over important parts of North Kivu, including the city of Goma, leaving when regional leaders promised that the DRC government was ready to comply with the 2009 agreement.
In November 2021, former members of the M23 disarmed, reminding the DRC government that it must abide by the agreement, but until then the government remained stubborn.
In various territories of North Kivu, especially in Lubero, there will be stone fighting on December 2, 2024.
The RDC forces and the Wazalendo coalition are attacking the M23 bases, aiming to take away the parts they have captured, but they have failed.
The head of MONUSCO explained that in general, the security of Eastern DRC is worried due to the ongoing fighting, however the delegations of Rwanda, Angola and DRC on July 30, 2024 had concluded that from August 4, 2024 there should be a ceasefire
