Summary
- Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have released 15 prisoners and handed them over to the AFC/M23 rebel movement.
- The detainees departed from the government-held city of Beni in a convoy and travelled through Uganda before being delivered to rebels in Rutshuru territory.
- All 15 individuals explicitly agreed to the transfer after months of bilateral negotiations regarding the finalised list of detainees.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have released 15 prisoners and handed them over to the AFC/M23 rebel movement.
The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transfer, marking the first known exchange under last year’s peace agreement signed in Qatar.
The detainees departed from the government-held city of Beni in a convoy and travelled through Uganda before being delivered to rebels in Rutshuru territory.
All 15 individuals explicitly agreed to the transfer after months of bilateral negotiations regarding the finalised list of detainees.
The diplomatic step aims to bring relief to separated families while addressing ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
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