By KT Reporter
A gold extraction plant located in Mwenga Territory, South Kivu Province, was bombed on Wednesday, barely a day after the signing of the Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the March 23 Movement (M23)/Congo River Alliance (AFC) rebels — a key step in the ongoing peace process for the conflict-ridden eastern region.
The mechanism, facilitated by Qatar, was signed in the presence of representatives from the DRC government and AFC/M23, alongside observers from Qatar, the United States, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) through the MCVE, and MONUSCO.
It designates the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a neutral intermediary for identifying and releasing detainees, one of the most contentious issues in previous negotiations. The agreement also outlines the creation of specific actors and modalities for verifying the ceasefire, although these details have not yet been disclosed. The mechanism seeks to ensure genuine monitoring of the cessation of hostilities in a region long plagued by instability.
Both parties released statements on Tuesday confirming their commitment to respect the agreement. However, on Wednesday, drone attacks targeted Twangiza Mining SA, a gold extraction plant owned by Banro Corporation, a Canadian-based gold exploration and development company operating in the DRC. The attacks also hit nearby areas, including Kadasomwa, Lumbishi, and Kasake, all under M23 control, causing tension and the displacement of civilians.
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their coalition partners of launching the bombing — an act he described as a violation of Tuesday’s ceasefire mechanism. Kanyuka said the attacks showed that Kinshasa’s regime has chosen to abandon the peace process and undermine peaceful conflict resolution efforts in eastern DRC. He warned that such violations challenge M23’s “unbreakable commitment to protect and defend civilians by all necessary means.”
The DR Congo government and FARDC have not yet responded to the accusations. Since the resumption of the M23 insurgency in 2022, the rebels have seized control of major territories in North and South Kivu provinces. The Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of backing the group — allegations both Rwanda and M23 have denied. The rebels maintain that their struggle is against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DRC’s leadership.
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