Their revolt in eastern DRC was ended after a joint UN-Congolese army onslaught.

Rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC have been routed following an unprecedented joint onslaught launched on October 25, 2013 by the Special Intervention Brigade of the UN MONUSCO force and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, FARDC.

The offensive led to the complete collapse of M 23 on November 5, 2013 after UN and FARDC forces retook several towns in quick succession. M 23 political leader, Bertrand Bisimwa, commander, Col. Sultani Makenga and 1,600 soldiers, fled across the border into Uganda. Makenga and his men later surrendered to Ugandan authorities. At least 76 other rebels reportedly fled across the border into Rwanda. After an unforgettable humiliating defeat at the hands of the rebels in November 2012, several reasons explain the recent success of the Congolese army.

FARDC Reforms

The Congolese army was humiliated on November, 20, 2012 when a few hundred M 23 rebels swept into the provincial town of Goma, briefly occupying it before retreating to the surrounding hills under a deal brokered by regional leaders. One year after, the tides turned against the rebels. The army is now better organised, thanks to reforms carried out by President Joseph Kabila who recalled several officers to the capital, Kinshasa. Lt. Gen. François Olenga, became the Chief of Army Staff in December 2012, taking charge of logistics. As a result, troops received food, water and ammunitions more regularly at the front.

On the other hand, Belgian and French-trained Gen. Lucien Bahuma Ambama, since his appointment last June, streamlined the chain of command and deployed trusted officers. Consequently, discipline and cohesion were instilled. Moreover, American, Belgian, Chinese and South African instructors have been training different FARDC battalions in the last months. Moreover, the FARDC appeared better armed and equipped this time around. Soldiers were paid more regularly and morale and discipline seemed to have improved, analysts said.

US, UK Intervention

US Secretary of State, John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, called President Paul Kagame of neighbouring Rwanda on Friday, October 25, 2013, telling him to steer clear of the conflict when the recent round of fighting began. Initially, Rwanda threatened to intervene, claiming that shells were fired into its territory by the FARDC. Rwanda has repeatedly been accused both by the UN and the international community of backing rebels in eastern DRC. M 23 is strongly believed to have been Rwanda’s creation.

MONUSCO Backing

Because of the support of the recently created MONUSCO Special Intervention Brigade, the Congolese army was able to recapture swathes of territory from the rebels in little time. Unlike the 20,000-strong UN MONUSCO peacekeeping force, the Special Intervention Brigade that is made up of 3,000 crack South African, Tanzanian and Malawian troops, has a more robust mandate to track down all armed groups in the country. The UN offered air and ground support, as well as vital intelligence. Plans are said to be underway for MONUSCO to deploy drones to carry out surveillance missions along DRC’s borders with Rwanda and Uganda.

US Sanctions

As long-time supporter of President Paul Kagame, the US has in the past been reluctant to sanction the government in spite of repeated accusations of Rwanda’s meddling in the recurrent strife in eastern DRC. But last September, the US suspended military aid to Rwanda over its alleged complicity in M 23’s recruitment of child soldiers. Although the financial aid withheld only amounts to 500,000 Dollars (about FCFA 243 million) in training programmes for the Rwandan army, the decision itself is very important and may signal more to come.

Carrot And Stick Approach

While talking peace with rebels in Kampala, Uganda since December 2012, the Democratic Republic Congo government also prepared for war. After the fall of the rebel headquarters at Bunagana on October 30, 2013, President Joseph Kabila again urged M 23 fighters to demobilise voluntarily. He promised that ‘political and diplomatic solutions’ remained on the negotiating table in Uganda. Analysts say this carrot and stick approach paid off. Moreover, about 10 armed groups still operate in eastern DRC and the collapse of M 23 does not necessarily mean return to peace and stability. The underlying grievances of the people of this mineral-rich region must be addressed quickly.

Kimeng Hilton NDUKONG