Burundian troops have taken over territories vacated by the M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo’s volatile North Kivu province, the East African Community regional force (EACRF), has announced. The regional force indicated that Burundi’s takeover of areas such as Karuba, Mushaki, Kirolirwe and part of Kitchanga vacated by the M23 rebels was a “significant milestone.” Significant milestone as EACRF- BNDF troops take over Karuba, Mushaki, Kirolirwe and earmark Kitchanga, with M23 withdrawing from Sake, Karuba, Mushaki, Neenero, Kirolirwe, Kibirizi and Mweso in compliance with the decision of EAC Heads of State in Addis Ababa. pic.twitter.com/Oa4CILdABE — EACRF DRC (@eacrf_DRC) March 22, 2023 The regional force also said the M23 will continue its withdrawal from positions in Sake, Karuba, Mushaki, Neenero, Kirolirwe, Kibirizi and Mweso in compliance with the decision of the EAC summit of Heads of State in Addis Ababa. ALSO READ: Burundi deploys more troops to DR Congo On March 5, Burundi deployed a contingent under the auspices of the EACRF tasked to support regional efforts to restore peace and security in eastern DR Congo, home to more than 120 armed groups. Since its deployment, EACRF has continuously taken control of positions vacated by the M23 rebels as part of their mandate as stipulated by the Luanda agreement signed in November 2022. Kenya and Burundi are the only countries that have deployed in the regional force. Uganda and South Sudan are yet to deploy troops in the EACRF while Rwanda cannot send in troops because, among others, Kinshasa alleges that Kigali is supporting the rebels. ALSO READ: Angola set to deploy troops to DR Congo amid setbacks On March 11, Angola announced plans to deploy a contingent “to secure the cantonment areas of the M23 elements and to protect the members of the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism,” in what appears as a bilateral agreement with Kinshasa. It is not yet clear under what exact order that deployment – which will be outside the known Nairobi and Luanda peace processes – will operate in. Angola’s President Joao Lourenço is a mediator, under the Luanda Process, in the DR Congo crisis. Despite its gains in persuading the M23 to withdraw, EACRF is under unrelenting pressure from Congolese politicians and civil society to launch an offensive against the rebels. However, as per the Luanda roadmap, the military solution will be the last option. ALSO READ: Situation in eastern DR Congo a major human rights challenge – Biruta Faced with an M23 offensive, in May 2022, the Congolese army formed an alliance with multiple militia groups, including the FDLR, a UN-sanctioned terrorist group formed by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. A Congolese minister recently said that the government would integrate militias into the army. Analysts say the atmosphere in Kinshasa and Goma could be an obstacle to the regional efforts to end the conflict peacefully. Kigali maintains that some international actors are adamant and don’t want to recognise the eminent Genocide against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in eastern DR Congo, despite several reports and evidence highlighting the facts. ALSO READ: Rwanda 'very concerned' over possible genocide in Kivu – Biruta
