DR Congo’s M23 commander surrenders to Uganda
Date 2013/11/8 11:42:23 | Topic: Democratic Republic of the Congo
| The commander of the M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has surrendered to Ugandan authorities, along with hundreds of his men.
Reports on Thursday said Sultani Makenga and about 1,700 M23 rebels were disarmed and being held by the Ugandan military in Mgahinga, near the Congo border.
Colonel Makenga is listed on both the UN and US sanctions lists and it is unclear what Ugandan officials would do with him.
Uganda has been hosting peace talks between the M23 and the DR Congo government -- talks which have yet to yield results.
On Tuesday, DR Congo claimed "total victory" over the March 23 Movement, generally known as M23, after capturing the group’s remaining hilltop positions north of Goma to end a 20-month conflict.
Hours later M23 declared an end to its revolt and announced it would disarm and pursue political talks.
"The chief of staff and the commanders of all major units are requested to prepare troops for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration on terms to be agreed with the government of Congo," M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa said in a statement.
M23 rebels, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, have wrought havoc across eastern DR Congo since they embarked on an armed struggle against the government in April 2012.
Earlier this year the UN approved a new mission of 3,000 African soldiers with a mandate to fight the rebels.
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