The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached out to Chad for military assistance in combating the escalating insurgency by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in its eastern provinces.
- DRC seeks military assistance from Chad to combat M23 rebels.
- M23 rebels have captured significant territories in North Kivu and South Kivu since January.
- Government representatives from both countries have remained largely silent on the matter.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached out to Chad for military assistance in combating the escalating insurgency by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in its eastern provinces, according to a Chadian official and a source within the Congolese presidency.
On Tuesday, Congo’s Minister of Regional Integration met with Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno to convey the request on behalf of President Felix Tshisekedi, as confirmed in a statement from Chad’s presidency on Facebook. However, specific details of their discussions were not disclosed, according to Reuters.
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A Chadian official familiar with the matter stated that while Chad is considering Congo’s request for military support, no final decision has been made.
Since January, M23 rebels have captured significant territories in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu. The DRC authorities accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23, which Kigali denies.
A source at the Congolese presidency confirmed that Kinshasa had requested both military and diplomatic backing from Chad but did not provide further details.
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Government representatives from both countries have remained largely silent on the matter. Chad’s government spokesman, Gassim Cherif, did not respond to inquiries, while Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, stated she had no information regarding the request.
Last week, Chad’s Foreign Affairs Minister dismissed speculation about sending troops to Congo, calling it “pure speculation” in an interview with Reuters.
