Following reports that Congolese citizens are losing hope in their national army, Gen. Didier Etumba, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has called upon for public support and trust in the army.
In a statement in Goma (North Kivu) Tuesday, July 10, Gen. Etumba claims that the military has conducted victorious operations and remains determined to defeat the rebels of the Movement of March 23 (M23).
“People have confidence in the army. This is the only army that has done a good job, “said Gen.Etumba.
He explained that during exchange of fire with rebels, “the FARDC have experienced small problems but overall, the operations were rather great victory for the army.”
“The emphasis is perhaps on a few small problems that one or the other battalion of the Congolese army met in Bunagana or Ntamugenga Runyoni but we forget that the FARDC are trying to dismantle the rebels.”
M23 rebels took control of border town of Bunagana, in North Kivu on Thursday, July 5. They rose after this success to Rutshuru center also taking control of the towns of Kiwanja Rubare Ntamugenga, Tchengerero, Jomba parish, and Kitagoma Kabaya, in groups and Jomba Busanza in Rutshuru territory.
Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have called on the DRC government to open political talks after capturing key towns of Rutshuru and Bunagana at the DRC-Uganda border.
“The Congolese government knows what was committed with the then CNDP rebellion on March 23, 2009 in the city of Goma. Nothing was realised so far”, Col Vianney Kazarama, the M23 Spokesman declared on Sunday, July 8.
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