The media outlet released a statement by the Army Spokesperson in the province, Lieutenant Colonel Guillaume Ndjike, signed on August 25, in which he denied the M23 accusations that the Congolese military had violated “their airspace.”

Ndjike affirmed that no aircraft of the Armed Forces or their partners have been able to take off in North Kivu, due to meteorological conditions.

He considered the accusation a maneuver by the rebels to justify the attacks launched the day before against army positions in Kikuvho, in Lubero territory, in the middle of the cease-fire in force since last August 4.

“The M23, with support from Rwanda, signed and issued a communiqué on August 24, referring to the deployment of troops of the Armed Forces around the areas under their control. Once again, this is a case of manipulation of the public opinion,” he said.

In the eyes of the spokesperson this is a new violation of the cease-fire, adding that his side intends to submit the matter to the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism and the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism, in order to clarify these acts and abide by all the consequences.

The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting this armed group, but the rebels claim that they do not have to heed an agreement they did not negotiate.

A meeting between security experts from both countries and Angola, as mediator, is scheduled for this week in Luanda, to discuss specific issues leading to a final peace proposal.

Ied/omr/arc/kmg