The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have accused the AFC/M23 group of falsely claiming that it has withdrawn from the town of Uvira, after the group announced that it was supposed to have completed its pullout by Thursday.
In a statement read on national television (RTNC), FARDC spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge said that “claims of a withdrawal have absolutely no connection with the reality on the ground.”
He accused M23 and Rwanda of misleading the international community.
According to the BBC, Maj Gen Ekenge said this was “clear evidence of Rwanda’s blatant hypocrisy in complying with the commitments it made under the Washington peace agreement signed earlier this month by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, under the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump.”
For its part, AFC/M23 says it has already withdrawn its forces from the town of Uvira as of Thursday this week.
The group has not yet responded to Ekenge’s remarks.
M23 says it relinquished control of Uvira in compliance with the mediator’s request, as part of efforts to implement the Doha agreements related to a ceasefire.
