MLC withdrawal confirmed by UN military observers

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) confirmed that the Ugandan-backed rebel Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC) has have begun withdrawing troops from the front lines. UN spokesman Hamadoun Toure told reporters on Wednesday the MLC began disengaging from towns such as Befale, Bolomba, Basankusu and Imese in the northern province of Equateur on 1 June, as it had promised a UN Security Council mission during a recent tour of the DRC and neighbouring countries. The pullback will enable the deployment of UN peacekeeping troops in rebel and government-held zones.

The MLC is the last of the signatories to the Lusaka peace accord to withdraw its forces, as was agreed by all parties in February after President Joseph Kabila revived the process. The MLC had refused to join the general disengagement of armed forces in the DRC, arguing that it feared for the safety of civilians it left behind, but was reassured by the UN that humanitarian aid would be provided. The MLC controls a vast swathe of territory in northern DRC.