After overrunning two towns, the army was yesterday, October 29, 2013, consolidating its positions.

After Kibumba over the weekend, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, FARDC, on Sunday, October 27, 2013, overran Kiwanja and Rutshuru, two towns hitherto held by M 23 rebels in the east of the country.

Radio France Internationale, RFI reported yesterday, October 28, 2013, that the offensive, which was backed by the UN Special Intervention Brigade of the MONUSCO peacekeeping force, saw the rebels withdrawing from the captured towns without a fight. The rebels are now asking for a ceasefire, threatening to abandon peace talks with the government in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. A Tanzanian UN peacekeeper died in the combat.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned the killing of the Tanzanian peacekeeper, the UN News Service said yesterday. A statement from his spokesman said the soldier was killed as the UN Organization Stabilization Mission, MONUSCO, was supporting efforts by FARDC to protect civilians on the Kiwanja-Rutshuru axis, 25 kilometres north of Goma, the main city in the east.

The fall of Kiwanja and Ruthsuru is of great strategic significance as they have been under the control of M 23 since 2012 when the rebel movement was founded. M 23 is understood to have taken charge of the local administration, collecting taxes and toll on the roads. About 200 Kibumba inhabitants have fled to Goma, taking along children and whatever possessions they could. So far, 5,000 people have been displaced by the recent fighting. 

In a related development, South African President, Jacob Zuma, will today, October 29, 2013, arrive in Kinshasa on a two-day State visit. He and President Joseph Kabila are also expected to discuss the search for peace and stability in the east and the Great Lakes Region. South Africa is major contributor to both MONUSCO and the MONUSCO Special Intervention Brigade.