FARDC Denies M23 Rebels' Accusations of Airspace Violations and Ceasefire Breaches

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have denied accusations made by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels regarding alleged airspace violations and breaches of the ongoing ceasefire in North Kivu province.

On Sunday evening, M23-AFC rebels, through their political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, released a statement accusing FARDC and its allies of using fighter jets to launch assaults on M23 positions in Lubero territory, with reconnaissance missions extending to Rutshuru territory. These accusations followed heavy fighting that erupted early Sunday in Kirumba and surrounding areas in Lubero territory. 

Kanyuka described the situation as an "unacceptable provocation" and called on the international and national community to “bear witness to the matter.” In response, on Monday afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Ndjike Kaiko Guillaume, FARDC's spokesperson for North Kivu province, issued a statement refuting the M23 rebels’ claims. Kaiko described the allegations as a "manipulation of opinions," pointing out that adverse weather conditions had prevented any FARDC or partner aircraft from flying over North Kivu in the past 48 hours.

“We bring to the attention of the opinion that the M23/RDF have tried to cover through the various communications of this Sunday, August 25, their multiple violations of the ongoing ceasefire. In their official press release signed on August 25, they speak of an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which flew over the areas of Lubero and Rutshuru. In fact, this is an attempt to blind public opinion, because for the past 48 hours, due to weather problems, no FARDC or partner aircraft has been able to take to the skies in North Kivu,” Kaiko stated.

Kaiko also suggested that the M23 rebels’ allegations were an effort to justify their attacks on FARDC positions in Kikubo on Saturday. He added that FARDC intends to refer the matter to the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism and the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism to clarify these actions and ensure appropriate consequences.

“In this same context, to justify the attacks they launched this Sunday on our positions in Kikubo in the Lubero Territory, they signed on August 24 and put in the public place a press release evoking a deployment of FARDC troops around the areas under their control. This was again a manipulation of opinion. In view of the above, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo recall that they consider this warmongering behavior as yet another violation of the ceasefire desired by the Luanda process. To do this, they intend to refer the matter to the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism and the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism, in order to shed light on these acts and draw all the relevant consequences,” Kaiko added.

On Monday, gunfire subsided on all fronts, but tensions remain high as both sides continue to hold their positions. The ceasefire, which took effect on August 4, 2024, resulted from an agreement between Rwanda and the DR Congo, signed on July 30, 2024, in Luanda, Angola, and supervised by the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism. The mechanism, established in July 2022 by the Tripartite Summit of Angola, DR Congo, and Rwanda within the framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), aims to pacify the Eastern DRC.

The conflict between M23 and the Congolese government began in March 2022, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga. The conflict has led to M23/AFC capturing and controlling large parts of Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, and Lubero territories in North Kivu province. The DR Congo government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim denied by both Rwanda and M23. The rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DR Congo's leadership.