The Democratic Republic of Congo has requested military assistance from Chad to help combat the M23 rebels, according to reports on Wednesday.
Didier Mazenga, a special envoy of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, traveled to Chad on Tuesday for a meeting with President Mahamat Idriss Déby, French broadcaster RFI reported.
During the meeting, Mazenga conveyed a request from Tshisekedi for Chad’s military support in the fight against the M23 rebels, who have been making significant advances in eastern Congo. According to sources familiar with the discussions, no formal agreement has been reached yet, but a Chadian official stated that “nothing is ruled out.”
Earlier this month, President Déby publicly expressed Chad’s support for Congo, stressing the need to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ongoing conflict in DR Congo has displaced more than 7 million people over the past two decades, with violence escalating in recent months. The M23 rebels seized control of Goma last month before advancing into Bukavu.
Since January 26, clashes have resulted in over 3,000 deaths, nearly 3,000 injuries, and more than 500,000 new displacements, further adding to the existing 6.4 million displaced people, according to the UN.
At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans, have been killed in recent battles between M23 rebels and Congolese forces.
Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels and deploying troops to eastern Congo to support their offensive, but Kigali has repeatedly denied the allegations.
