Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Tebboune: Achieving economic integration must not remain a dream.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf delivers a speech on behalf of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Fifth Arab Development, Economic, and Social Summit in Baghdad.
Mustafa: We reaffirm our commitment to work with our brothers and friends around the world for stability and an end to wars.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa: We stress the importance of reaching an agreement to implement the initiatives of the Development, Economic, and Social Summit.
Aboul Gheit: The global economy is going through a period of turbulence.
Aboul Gheit: Concrete solutions must be found for the issue of Arab food security in line with the strategy proposed at the Arab Summit in Baghdad.
Aboul Gheit: Arab national security is an integrated whole that cannot be achieved without food, social, cyber, and other forms of security.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit: We present a comprehensive Arab strategy for food security at the Arab Development Summit.
The closing statement of the Arab Summit: We reaffirm our absolute rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people and call for the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip.
The closing statement of the Arab Summit: The goal of the Arab Summit is to unify our efforts and achieve the interests of the peoples of our region.

M23 fighters remain in Walikale despite pledge to withdraw

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Mar 2025 19:51
3 Min Read

Direct negotiations between Kinshasa and M23 representatives were scheduled to take place in Luanda, Angola, on March 18, but were cancelled unexpectedly.

Listen
  • x
  • aP
    People walk past a closed bank in downtown Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, one month after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels took the city. (AP)

Armed members of the M23 group continued to occupy the town of Walikale in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, days after stating their intention to pull back in support of renewed political negotiations.

The Rwanda-backed rebel faction had announced on Saturday that it was "repositioning its forces" outside Walikale, describing the move as a step toward fostering "peace and political dialogue." However, the group also declared that it would not permit Congolese government forces to re-enter the town, home to roughly 60,000 residents.

On the same evening, the Congolese army responded, saying troops would "observe with vigilance" and avoid taking offensive action while calling on pro-government militias to do the same "to encourage de-escalation."

Decreased hostilities

Reports from Walikale on Sunday indicated a lull in hostilities, though the presence of M23 fighters remained unchanged.

Related News

M23, Southern Africa bloc agree on troop withdrawal from Eastern DRC

M23 militants capture key DR Congo town despite ceasefire

"We woke up to calm. There were no bombardments this morning. The M23 are still here," a local resident told AFP, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

A medical worker, also requesting anonymity, confirmed the absence of airstrikes and said the fighters "are still with us."

A Congolese soldier described the atmosphere as "calm," though he could not confirm any movement on the part of the armed group.

Peace talks falter

Direct negotiations between Kinshasa and M23 representatives were scheduled to take place in Luanda, Angola, on March 18, but were cancelled unexpectedly. On that same day, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Doha for a surprise round of talks facilitated by Qatar. During the meeting, both leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire."

Despite this, clashes have not ceased in the region.

Read more: Children fall prey to lethal violence, rape in east Congo war

M23 seized control of Walikale last Wednesday. The town is strategically located at the crossroads leading to Goma and Bukavu—two cities the group captured earlier this year in swift military campaigns. These urban centers are the capitals of North and South Kivu, provinces long plagued by conflict and rich in natural resources.

Walikale lies near significant mineral sites, including gold deposits and the Bisie tin mine—one of the largest globally in terms of production. Operations at Bisie have been suspended since mid-March due to the conflict.

  • M23 militants
  • DR Congo
  • M23 rebels
  • Congo
  • Rwanda

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP)
Technology

Microsoft admits supplying AI to 'Israel' amid Gaza carnage

Israeli occupation’s tanks parked in a staging area near the border with Gaza, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' launches multi-axis assault in Gaza under 'Gideon’s Chariots'

People stand at the train ticket counter of NJ Transit at Penn Station, amid a strike by New Jersey Transit train engineers, in New York, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Economy

Commuters stranded amid first New Jersey railway strike in 40 years

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts
US & Canada

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS