Sat Mar 22 16:07:36 UTC 2025: ## M23 Rebels to Withdraw from Walikale in DRC, Awaiting Concrete Action
**Kinshasa, DRC** – M23 rebels, currently embroiled in an offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have announced they will withdraw their forces from the recently captured town of Walikale. This decision, announced Saturday by the Congo River Alliance, a rebel alliance including M23, follows a February ceasefire and aims to support ongoing peace initiatives. The withdrawal is described as a “repositioning of forces” from Walikale and surrounding areas.
The move comes after M23 unexpectedly pulled out of planned talks with Congolese authorities in Angola due to EU sanctions. While the Congolese government expressed hope that this withdrawal signifies a commitment to peace and dialogue, government army officers have greeted the announcement with skepticism. A senior M23 official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed the withdrawal, stating it was intended to “give peace a chance,” but refused to specify the rebels’ new location. The official added a crucial condition: Walikale must remain demilitarized; any return of the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies would be seen as a resumption of hostilities.
Walikale’s capture marked the rebels’ furthest westward advance in their ongoing offensive, bringing them within 400km of Kisangani, a major city and port. Foreign Affairs Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner cautiously welcomed the news, emphasizing the need for concrete action to confirm M23’s commitment to peace and dialogue. The situation remains tense, with the Congolese government closely monitoring the rebels’ actions to ensure a genuine commitment to ending the conflict.
First Piper 