M23 to ‘withdraw’ from seized town

RWANDA-BACKED M23 rebels staging an offensive in east Congo and said at the weekend they would withdraw forces from the seized town of Walikale in support of peace efforts, having previously said they were leaving troops there as they pushed on to the capital.

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The government said it hoped the move would be translated into concrete action, after M23 this week pulled out of planned talks with Congolese authorities at the last minute due to EU sanctions on some of its leaders and Rwandan officials.

It would have been their first direct engagement with Congo's government after President Felix Tshisekedi reversed his long-standing refusal to speak to the rebels.

The Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, said in a statement at the weekend that it had “decided to reposition its forces” from Walikale and surrounding areas that M23 took control of this week.

This decision was in line with a ceasefire declared in February and in support of peace initiatives, it said in a statement that was greeted with skepticism by army officers.