Congolese Police Flee to Uganda Amid Escalating M23 Conflict

Nearly 100 police officers from the Democratic Republic of Congo fled to Uganda as clashes between M23 rebels and Congo's military intensified. Arriving with guns and ammunition, they were disarmed by Ugandan authorities. The violence has driven thousands of Congolese refugees, including vulnerable groups, into Uganda.

Nearly 100 police officers from the Democratic Republic of Congo sought refuge in Uganda over the weekend amid escalating clashes between M23 rebels and Congo's military, a Ugandan military spokesperson disclosed on Monday. The officers crossed via the Ishasha border in Kanungu district, southwestern Uganda, as stated by Major Kiconco Tabaro, regional spokesperson for the Uganda People's Defence Forces.

The disarmed officers, who arrived with 43 guns and ammunition, had fled due to the intensifying violence from M23 and other militias, compounded by rising hunger, Tabaro noted. Over the past four days, at least 2,500 additional Congolese refugees have entered Uganda, escaping the mounting conflict, including vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children, according to Tabaro.

Since 2022, M23 has renewed its insurgency in eastern Congo, an area fraught with militia activity. A UN report alleged Ugandan military support for the Tutsi-led rebel group, an accusation Uganda denies. The UN has also accused Rwanda of backing M23, a charge Rwanda refutes. Congo's military efforts to counter the rebels have intensified, yet M23 continues to expand its control, displacing millions according to UN estimates.

(With inputs from agencies.)