Gen Muhoozi Kainerubaga: UPDF does not recognise Congo-M23 Doha agreement
The agreement signed last week laid out several principles for the two parties to follow to allow resumption of normalcy by ending fighting in Eastern DRC.
Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerubaga, now says Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) does not recognise or respect the Doha agreement signed by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group through the Congo River Alliance.
In a series of posts on X, General Kainerubaga declared that any agreement excluding DRC's neighbours will not be meaningful.
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"Qatar or the USA cannot decide for nine African countries that are neighbours of the DRC and may have issues with it. Washington and Doha mean nothing without the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC)," tweeted Kainerubaga.
The agreement signed last week laid out several principles for the two parties to follow to allow resumption of normalcy by ending fighting in Eastern DRC.
Among them is that state authority would be restored in the entire territory, and mutual commitments between the two sides would pave the way for constructive negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.
The document also emphasised civilian protection and support for the ceasefire, with assistance from the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and other partners.
On his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the declaration "opens a pathway" towards lasting peace, security, and the return of displaced persons and refugees, and urged all parties to ensure the swift implementation of the commitments undertaken.
However, the principles initially seen as a major point of change in the conflict received criticism from analysts who described them as superficial and failing to address the real issues in the region.
At the same time, an interpretation challenge of what they meant also came to the fore following an announcement by DRC Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, who said the principles come with clear commitments, including M23's withdrawal from DRC territory.
"The Declaration of Principles which has just been signed in Doha with the AFC/M23 under the fascination of Qatar, is based on the strict respect of the constitution of the DRC, the United Nations Charter and the African Union Charter, international law and security council resolutions, notably resolution 2773, and allighlbs with the Washington agreement," Mr Muyaya said on Saturday.
This was, however, refuted by M23, which plans to make a statement regarding the issue later today.
"The Declaration of Principles signed today in Doha notably provides for the restoration of state authority over the entire national territory, it is not about withdrawal but about mechanisms to empower the state, enabling it to fulfil its prerogatives and obligations," Betrand Bisimwa, the president of the M23 movement, said.
The rebel group, through its Spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, further accuses DRC of deploying heavy weapons towards the population in the Uvira highlands through its army, Burundi forces, Wazalendo and the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR).
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