A group of 30 unarmed people claiming to be M23 combatants fled to Rwanda yesterday at 17:00 hours through Rwanda-DRC common border, in Bugeshi Sector, Rubavu District, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) signed by the RDF spokesperson ,LT Col René Ngendahimana.
The statement indicates that the combatants reported to Rwanda’s military that they were fleeing from combat action by DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) adding that they were seen by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC where those requiring medical attention have been attended to by the ICRC, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.
The fleeing follows recent on 15th January 2017 reports where armed M23 combatants fled the refuge camp in Uganda to enter North Kivu Province in Democratic Republic of Congo.
It was later confirmed by Uganda’s spokesperson,Ofwono Opondo that 101 M23 combatants were held returning to DRC but 40 of them went missing.
In a press briefing held on 20th January 2017 in Goma, the spokesperson of DRC infantry forces Gén François Olenga requested M23 combatants to report themselves to government military or have their commander Gen.Sultan Makenga questioned.
On 20th January 2017, Uganda security personnel arrested more five M23 combatants suspected to have returned to DRC.
Leave a Reply