DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has sent Major General Shora Mabondani to Eastern Congo to oversee the implementation of a new war plan against M23 rebels.

Gen Mabondani,  who is the new commander of the 34th military region, arrived in North Kivu’s provincial capital of Goma on Wednesday evening.

At Goma International Airport, the army general was received by political leaders and senior army officers in the region.

Mabondani said he would “personally command military operations against the M23 insurgents”. 

He also appealed for “support from the public and field commanders for the success of his mission.”

General Mabondani takes over from his colleague, Major-General Bruno Mpezo Mbele, who was detained at the end of December 2023 following reports of collaboration with the genocidal Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). 

In a statement, the Congolese army had prohibited, a month earlier, any form of collaboration with these negative Rwandan forces.

​​The arrival of Mabondani comes at a time when DRC is stepping up both aerial and long-range military attacks against M23 rebel bases.

General Mabondani said, “It is high time we restored peace and stability in Eastern DRC to enable our people to live decent lives.”

New war plan

According to Chimpreports, this Thursday morning in early January 2024, Congolese generals and officials from the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) prepared a new war plan to counter the M23 security threat.

The plan involves use of at least 100,000 soldiers, hundreds of tanks, mobile reconnaissance and strike units, long-range artillery, combat drones, and warplanes in a new offensive to uproot M23 rebels from their strongholds. 

Currently, Congolese, SADC and United Nations forces are conducting artillery attacks on M23’s bases in Rutshuru, North Kivu. 

M23’s spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka on Tuesday confirmed that “Coalition forces of the illegitimate regime in Kinshasa have launched widespread attacks against civilians in densely populated areas of Mshaki, Mweso, Karuba, and their surrounding areas, using combat aircraft, heavy artillery, and drones.”

However, officials say, “This is just the beginning. The artillery attacks are meant to give rebels sleepless nights and send them into disarray before the main military operations start later this February.”

Tshisekedi rules out talks 

President Tshisekedi earlier this week said Congolese armed forces will continue fighting Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo until the mineral-rich country achieves victory.

Tshisekedi, who was interacting with diplomats accredited to DRC on Tuesday, said “No dialogue will take place with our aggressor (Rwanda) as long as it occupies, whatever the extent, a portion of our territory,” said Tshisekedi.

United Nations last year released satellite images showing Rwandan troops crossing into DRC to help M23 rebels, a claim Kigali denies

Rwandan President Paul Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of failing to honor his commitments to M23 rebels, hence the resurgence of the rebellion in 2019. 

Tshisekedi said DRC remains a “victim of Rwanda’s aggression”, adding, “My government reiterates the non-negotiable nature of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.”

The diplomats asked if Tshisekedi would consider talks with the insurgents currently operating in North Kivu. 

The President insisted that “FARDC (Congolese armed forces) will remain, whatever the extent, whatever the cost, committed in pursuit of the enemy (M23 rebels/Rwanda army).”

The United Nations in December 2023 said the number of internally displaced has reached a record 6.9 million amid escalating conflict, with humanitarian needs soaring.