Rebels from the AFC/M23 group left Walikale Centre just days after taking over this key town in eastern Congo. They put out a message from Goma on Saturday saying they backed peace talks, but many wonder about their real reasons for leaving. Walikale has many minerals that make it valuable in North Kivu. People feared the rebels might push toward Kisangani next.
The group claims it moved its fighters as part of a promise made on February 22, 2025. Their spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, signed the statement about pulling back. The world has been putting more pressure on both the rebels and Rwanda lately. Many countries and the UN say Rwanda helps these fighters, though Rwanda denies this claim. The timing makes some think outside pressure forced them to go.
The rebels told local leaders to keep people safe during this change. They also said they would come right back if government troops or other armed groups attacked the area. AFC/M23 complained about lies spread by Congo's central government. They see news as another battlefield in their fight. No one knows for sure who will run Walikale next.
Congo's army might step in to take control, but the town faces a shaky future. The rebels may truly want peace, or they may have just stepped back because other countries pushed them. Either way, Walikale shows how this war keeps changing life in eastern Congo. The town sits at a turning point that mirrors the bigger problems across the whole area.
The group claims it moved its fighters as part of a promise made on February 22, 2025. Their spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, signed the statement about pulling back. The world has been putting more pressure on both the rebels and Rwanda lately. Many countries and the UN say Rwanda helps these fighters, though Rwanda denies this claim. The timing makes some think outside pressure forced them to go.
The rebels told local leaders to keep people safe during this change. They also said they would come right back if government troops or other armed groups attacked the area. AFC/M23 complained about lies spread by Congo's central government. They see news as another battlefield in their fight. No one knows for sure who will run Walikale next.
Congo's army might step in to take control, but the town faces a shaky future. The rebels may truly want peace, or they may have just stepped back because other countries pushed them. Either way, Walikale shows how this war keeps changing life in eastern Congo. The town sits at a turning point that mirrors the bigger problems across the whole area.
