The United Nations’ Envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bintou Keita has warned that the M23 rebels have upped their belligerence and act like an army.
She added that the growth of the rebels will threaten the UN peacekeeping force charged with the responsibility of protesting the civilians.
Ms. Keita urged the U.N Security Security Council to back efforts made by the East African Commission to defuse tension between Rwanda and DR Congo.
She urged both countries to use the upcoming summit in Angola hosted by Joao Lourenço to settle their differences. Both nations have also been urged by the EAC in the past to sheathe their swords and settle their differences.
The M23 is one of the most devastating rebel groups in the region and has been terrorising the Eastern DRC. The rebel group targets the Eastern DRC’s rich mineral resources.
She said “during the most recent hostilities, the M23 has conducted itself increasingly as a conventional army rather than an armed group.”
“The M23 possesses firepower and equipment, which is increasingly sophisticated, specifically in terms of long-range fire capacities, mortars and machine guns as well as precision fire against aircraft,” she said.
“The threat that this poses both for civilians” and U.N. peacekeepers “who have a mandate to protect them is evident.”
A regional force will be deployed in Congo DR to protect the civilians in the country, and work in collaboration with MONUSCO as the M23 rebels are seen as a strong army.