Rubaya, North Kivu A hundred young people from Rubaya and its surroundings have reportedly joined the M23 movement following a recruitment allegedly initiated by the Governor of North Kivu, Eraston Bahati. According to local sources, this recruitment took place under the supervision of the Vice Governor and the administrator of the Masisi territory.
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Reports indicate that these youths voluntarily agreed to join the ranks of the M23, a movement group active in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This action raises many questions regarding the real motivations behind this recruitment and the role played by provincial authorities.
Local observers believe that this initiative could further fuel insecurity in the region, which is already marked by frequent clashes between the M23 and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC). Others fear that this could intensify ethnic and territorial tensions in this strategic area of North Kivu.
The news of this recruitment has sparked various reactions. Some political actors and civil society organizations denounce it as an attempt to weaken the central government by local factions. They call on the Congolese government to launch an investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding this issue and identify those responsible.
On the other hand, M23 sympathizers claim that this recruitment responds to a need to protect local populations from abuses committed by certain armed factions and militias operating in the region.
As the M23 continues to expand its influence in several areas of North Kivu, the integration of new movement could escalate hostilities in the region. The international community is closely monitoring this situation, while mediation initiatives are underway to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The central government is urged to take urgent measures to contain the M23’s expansion and ensure the security of civilian populations in the country’s east. This situation once again highlights the complexity of the Congolese conflict and the urgency of a lasting solution for peace in the region.
