DRC: the transfer of 15 detainees to the AFC/M23 opens a first test for the Doha process.
The release of fifteen detainees to the Alliance of the Congo River (AFC), of which the M23 is the main component, has been welcomed by Qatar and the United States as a first confidence-building measure between the parties involved in the conflict in eastern DRC. However, the operation has not resolved disagreements regarding the identity of the individuals involved, the procedures followed, and the reciprocity of the releases.
SUMMARY
The fifteen men were transferred to areas controlled by the AFC/M23 as part of the Doha process, supported by Qatar and the United States. They were first taken to Beni, before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and then transported via Uganda. Benjamin Mbonimpa, the executive secretary of the AFC/M23, welcomed them upon their arrival.
However, the AFC/M23 disputes the composition of the group that was released. According to the movement, only nine of the fifteen detainees were on the list of 768 names submitted for mediation. One of the other six is said to be a Ugandan national with no links to the organization. The last five, who were arrested in particular in Katanga, Ituri, and Kinshasa, also wouldn’t be on that list.
The lists exchanged during the negotiations have also evolved. In April, 311 individuals identified as close to the AFC/M23 were found in prisons under government control. Meanwhile, 166 people from the government camp were listed among the detainees of the AFC/M23.
The Disputed Transfer Route
The armed movement also claims that the agreed route provided for a departure from Kinshasa to Entebbe, then Kisoro and Bunagana. Passing through Beni, followed by a handover to the ICRC and a transport via Uganda, would therefore not match the initially discussed plan, according to the AFC/M23.
Kinshasa, Qatar, and Washington, on their side, emphasize the smooth execution of the operation and its overall compliance with the Doha process. This divergence illustrates the ongoing difficulties in interpreting the commitments made by both sides.
The issue of reciprocity also remains unresolved. The AFC/M23 claims to have already made available several thousand military personnel and fighters affiliated with the government camp. However, discussions held in Montreux had focused on a group estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 identified military personnel.
No new transfers have yet been announced. The AFC/M23 is now requesting an updated list of detainees as well as a precise timeline for the continuation of operations. The ICRC recalls that a new handover can only be organized after an agreement is reached between the concerned parties.
Comments