False Accusations?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo made a move that motives were a mystery to the public, but began to make M23’s options smaller and smaller as they get pushed farther into a corner, with each step backwards the peace treaty sounding like a better option. The March 23 Movement, or M23, refused to sign an agreement after Kinshasa (capital of the DRC) declared that it would be named a "declaration" and not an "accord". Which means that no power, status, or recognition would be given to the DRC that the agreement previously agreed for. (DR Congo aborts peace deal with M23 rebels, 2013)
The world's largest UN peacekeeping force is in Congo, trying with the government to defeat M23, which has become a big enough problem for this to be necessary. How M23 has been able to grow and become such a big threat is with the suspicion that Rwanda and Uganda siding with the rebel forces, accused by the Congo's government and the UN, but Uganda and Rwanda still deny the allegations, no well-grounded evidence has been found to bring these accusations to the test. (Vitchek, 2013) Whether with Uganda and Rwanda or without them, the rebels are in a tough spot, but whether the government will agree to peace is still up in the air.
This talk of peace between the Congo and M23 have been cancelled until recently. On October 31, Government troops wrestled Bunagana, the last town in rebel hands (the corner the DRC was pushing them into). Only two days afterwards, 20 months since the rebellion started, the M23 finally gave up, calling a ceasefire. The peace deal, that has extreme favouring for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been successfully signed after the rebels laid down their weapons in defeat, seeing no better option.
Finally, currently the biggest rebellion in the Congo has been overtaken, for now. M23 has now become a political party and all former M23 members have been demobilized. Also, a formation of a committee from M23’s newly made political party has been called to handle property and land that was confiscated, stolen or destroyed. The former M23 rebels with war crimes will not be able to live with the current society, and will finally have to pay for the crimes they have committed. (Congo and M23 Rebels Sign Peace Deal, 2013) Both Uganda and Rwanda still deny claims to supporting M23 in their uprising, unlike the former M23 rebels, justice has not reached them.
"A Ugandan official has threatened that “M23 might regroup,” obviously meaning that Uganda and Rwanda might send troops back into Congo, if “M23’s terms” aren’t met"
(Garrison, 2013)
“People are coming here from Congo, with absolutely nothing”
(VIchek, 2013)
By Darcy Nicholson
Sources:
Garrison, A. (2013, November 16). Why is DRC “Negotiating” With M23, Not Rwanda and Uganda? Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/11/15/why-is-drc-negotiating-with-m23-not-rwanda-and-uganda/
Congo and M23 Rebels Sign Peace Deal. (2013, November 03). VOA. Retrieved from http://www.voanews.com/content/drc-m23-sign-peace-deal/1809026.html
DR Congo aborts peace deal with M23 rebels. (2013, November 12). - Africa. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/11/dr-congo-aborts-peace-deal-with-m23-rebels-20131111191022625103.html
Vltchek, A. (2013, November 18). M23 Gangs are Returning to Rwanda from Congo - RT Op-Edge. M23 Gangs Are Returning to Rwanda from Congo - RT Op-Edge. Retrieved from http://rt.com/op-edge/m23-rebels-leave-congo-902/