In the DRC, the East African force announces that Ugandan troops will deploy to Bunagana. This locality in Rutshuru territory, in North Kivu, was the first to fall into the hands of the M23 rebels last June. Theoretically, the rebels must liberate all the localities conquered by March 30.
For now, the rebels are still in Bunagana, and Ugandan troops are not yet deployed in the town. Even if the information has been circulating since Tuesday and the spokesperson for the Ugandan forces announces an imminent arrival of his troops in the border town, on the ground, this is not yet the case.
Discussions are underway, local sources say. They confirm that the deployment must take place, “but not today”, they assure. On the other hand, they confirm that elements of the EAC (the East African force), executives, are indeed present in Bunagana to establish a withdrawal protocol and coordinate these operations.
Late deployment
The March 30 objective for the total withdrawal of the M23 from the occupied areas now seems impossible to achieve. The rebels are present in a large part of the province and the chiefs of staff of the EAC recognized this last Friday during a meeting in Bujumbura.
This Tuesday, the M23 is even back in the locality of Mweso, from which they had nevertheless withdrawn a few days ago. The reason: the Congolese soldiers, the FARDC, had redeployed in this area, which, according to the rebellion, is contrary to the roadmap which calls for the deployment of EAC forces in the liberated areas.