M23 vows retaliation against SADC forces to protect civilians

The M23 accuses the TPDF of using heavy artillery against civilian populations while targeting their forces.

The Directorate of the M23 Movement has emphasized its commitment to peace and its adherence to the decisions of international and regional bodies.

However, they assert that the actions of Mr. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo are undermining peace efforts, leading to a situation they describe as tantamount to warmongering and ethnic cleansing, primarily affecting vulnerable civilians in Masisi and Karuba.

The M23’s statement, signed by Lawrence Kanyuka, Political wing spokesperson, conveys a dual message of peace and an unwavering resolve to defend innocent lives. The movement has publicly condemned the ongoing human rights violations and war crimes and has vowed to take defensive action to neutralize the SADC forces’ artillery that is allegedly decimating the civilian populace.

The statement highlights the M23’s respect for all regional organizations but draws a line at the continued use of what they consider indiscriminate force by the TPDF.

The movement’s declaration of its readiness to protect civilians by capturing or neutralizing the weapons and those operating them marks a significant escalation in their rhetoric and underscores the urgency of the situation on the ground.

The M23’s stance signals a critical juncture in the conflict, where the protection of civilians has become a central issue in their struggle.