UN Refugee Chief Meets with AFC/M23 Leadership to Discuss Refugee Return**
#DRCongo, #Goma
In a significant diplomatic engagement, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, @FilippoGrandi , met today with the high command of the #AFC/#M23 to discuss the critical issue of the safe and durable return of Congolese and Rwandan refugees.
The high-level talks, held in eastern DRC, focused on establishing the necessary conditions to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced by years of conflict in the region. Key points of discussion included ensuring civilian protection, guaranteeing safe passage and access for humanitarian agencies, and addressing the root causes of displacement to allow for sustainable reintegration.
The meeting underscores the AFC/M23's increasingly central role in the region's political and security landscape. Once known primarily as a rebel movement, the group is now being engaged by international bodies as a key stakeholder for achieving stability. A statement from the UNHCR described the discussions as "constructive" and part of ongoing efforts to find peaceful solutions to the protracted crisis in the Great Lakes region.
The context for these talks is complex. The AFC/M23 controls significant territory in North Kivu province, from where many refugees have fled to neighboring countries like Rwanda and Uganda. Their cooperation is therefore seen as essential for any large-scale organized return. The group has publicly positioned itself as an actor for peace and security, committed to stabilizing the region it now governs.
The international community will be watching closely for concrete actions to follow this dialogue, hoping it marks a turning point toward lasting peace and the safe return home for displaced populations.
Rutshuruâs streets are now lit with electricity, a powerful symbol of the peace and stability ushered in by M23/AFC. After years of uncertainty, the people can finally walk safely at night, conduct business after dark, and rebuild their lives with confidence.
@UN , @UN_BintouKeita , @USAmbUN@antonioguterres , you are undoubtedly familiar with the rules of engagement on the battlefield. We have all witnessed the strategic brilliance of the M23 during the Goma and Bukavu rescue operations. Their tactics in organizing and deploying forces, along with their effective application of battlefield functions, were exemplary.
Throughout their campaign, the M23 has adhered to the Geneva Conventions, also known as the humanitarian law of armed conflict, demonstrating their commitment to minimizing civilian casualties.
The M23 has shown respect for the rules of engagement by integrating prisoners of war. We saw the M23 commanders visit the wounded enemy combatants in the hospitals where they are being humanly treated. In light of this, how can you justify calling for the M23 to withdraw from Goma and Bukavu? What more must the M23 do to prove that they are a legitimate, grassroots movement genuinely dedicated to the well-being of their people?
In stark contrast, we have observed DRC troops ransacking towns before retreating, committing numerous violations of military conduct. While the M23 may face pressure to comply, the will of the people and their unwavering support for the M23 as liberators speak volumes. I sincerely hope that the M23 will not abandon the people of Goma, Bukavu, and elsewhere again due to the recklessness of government forces.
COMMUNIQUĂ OFFICIEL DE L'ALLIANCE FLEUVE CONGO DU 22/02/2025
LâAFC/M23 poursuit ses consultations avec les forces sociales et politiques qui partagent sa vision dâun nouveau paradigme de gouvernance pour la RDC.
This is Goma today â€ïžâ€ïž
All Congolese of Goma came to show support to M23. Itâs over for President Tshisekedi. People have spoken. They want M23.
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We are pleased with the decision of Malawian president to withdraw troops from our soil (DRC). We are Africans and we will always be. This is an internal problem that we have and will be solved by our brotherly round table not foreign forces.