Congo police scatter protesters denouncing slow M23 rebel pullback

By Djaffar Al Katanty

GOMA (Democratic Republic of Congo) – On Wednesday, police used tear gas to disperse protestors in Congo’s eastern town of Goma. They were asking for authorities to force an agreement on the withdrawal of M23 rebels in occupied territory.

Regional leaders brokered the ceasefire in November. The Tutsi-led, which had launched a new offensive last year was to be allowed to withdraw from newly captured positions. According to Congo’s presidency, the deadline was Jan. 15.

The M23 was accused of ignoring the agreement and occupying other territory to make up for withdrawals critics believe were mainly ceremonial. On Tuesday, President Felix Tshisekedi made similar allegations.

The M23 has denied that and accuse Congolese authorities with violating the agreement.

Protests were held in Goma by civil society groups on Wednesday to protest the delays in implementing M23 withdrawal.

The march was banned by the city authorities. However, hundreds took part in the march and chanted and held signs decrying the East African Community (EAC), which created a regional military force last January to stop rebel-driven unrest.

Gloire Bagaya (26), said that protester Gloire Bagaya wanted EAC forces to leave the area and wage offensives there where the M23 is.

They should choose to go home or fight the enemy on the front lines.

According to a Reuters reporter, police used tear gas against the protestors and took about a dozen people into custody, including three journalists.

Local police commanders denied that arrests were made. The EAC did no immediate respond to a request for comment.

The M23’s most recent offensive has left at least 450,000 people homeless and caused a diplomatic crisis in Congo and neighboring Rwanda.

Congo accuses Rwandans of inflaming the conflict by supporting rebels. This accusation was also made by experts from the United Nations and Western powers. Rwanda refutes this accusation.

Over the past few months, several protests took place in Goma. The latest was directed at Rwandan ceasefire agreements.

Protests in July were sparked by complaints that U.N. peacekeepers failed to protect civilians from long-standing militia violence.

(Reporting by Djaffar al Katanty; Additional reporting from Sonia Rolley; Writing and Editing by Sofia Christensen.