M23 rebel fighters sit on a truck as they withdraw near the town of Sake, 42 km west of Goma in eastern Congo November 30, 2012.M23 rebel fighters sit on a truck as they withdraw near the town of Sake, 42 km west of Goma in eastern Congo November 30, 2012.
The deadline for this was Jan. 15, according to Congo’s presidency. But the M23 has been accused of flouting the deal and occupying territory elsewhere to compensate for withdrawals that critics consider being mainly ceremonial. Civil society groups called protests in Goma on Wednesday to denounce delays in implementing the M23 withdrawal. City authorities banned the march.which set up a regional military force last year to end rebel-driven unrest.
Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators and arrested about a dozen people, including three journalists, according to Reuter’s reporter on the scene. A local police commander denied any arrests were made.