Title: “The EAC Regional Force accelerates the cantonment process of the armed group M23 in the DRC”
The last extraordinary meeting of Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) reinforced their commitment to the process of cantonment of armed groups active in the region. Monusco, for its part, continues efforts for disarmament, demobilization, community recovery and stabilization. In this context, a team from the EAC Regional Force, accompanied by representatives of various Member States, MONUSCO and the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism carried out a reconnaissance on the location chosen for a pre-cantonment in North- Kivu.
Rumangabo, in the territory of Rutshuru, was the subject of this mission which took place on June 22 and 23, to assess its relevance as a pre-cantonment site for the armed group M23, which conditions its cantonment on a dialogue directly with the Congolese government. This recognition brought together several important personalities, such as Colonel Daniel Rotich, the Kenyan contingent commander, Major General Aphaxard Kiugu, the Force Commander, Major General Benoît Chavanat, the Deputy Force Commander of MONUSCO and several other staff officers.
The team was welcomed by the Chairman of the EAC Verification and Oversight Authority, Lieutenant General Nassone João, as well as EAC MVM and MONUSCO staff. She carried out a comprehensive orientation of the area, determining its viability based on the previously stated objectives.
The UN Security Council also stressed last March the importance of a political settlement of the current crisis, calling on all armed groups to participate unconditionally in the Nairobi process to seek political solutions. In this sense, the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program will be essential to allow a de-escalation of the conflict in the DRC.
The Regional Force, in accordance with its mandate, remains determined to support the peace efforts applied by the various actors to guarantee peace and stability in the eastern DRC. This cantonment is an important step in the search for lasting solutions to a conflict that has lasted too long.