Army chiefs from southern African bloc visit Goma in Congo amid clashes between army and rebels

(3 Mar 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goma, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
1. A Congolese army armoured vehicle escorting the convoy of military officers
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Saké, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
2. South African soldiers in an army armoured vehicle
3. An army convoy arriving in Saké
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Goma, DR Congo - 2 March 2024
4. Military officers arriving at the meeting at SADC (Southern African Development Community) headquarters
5. Military officers in the meeting room
6. SOUNDBITE (French) General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the Congolese army:
"It was a question of assessing the progress of operations on the ground, and fine-tuning strategies for strengthening them (military operations)."
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Goma, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
7. Various of General Christian Tshiwewe, chief of staff of the Congolese army with SADC troops at SADC headquarters
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Goma, DR Congo - 2 March 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (French) General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the Congolese army:
"They (the chiefs of staff of SADC and the chief of staff of the DRC) went to Mobanbiro in the town of Saké in Massissi territory. Their (the SADC chiefs of staff and the DRC chief of staff) visit to Goma is a strong signal of the commitment and determination of SADC and Burundi alongside the DRC.”
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Goma, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
9. A SADC joint force armoured vehicle escorting a military convoy
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Saké, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
10. Sitting in a car, a soldier points his gun at the ground at the entrance to Saké
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Goma, DR Congo - 2 March 2024
11. Placide Nzilamba, on the phone
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Placide Nzilamba, a member of Goma civil society:
"We welcome the presence (of the SADC chiefs of staff) here, and we think that it has enabled them to understand the situation here, having experienced the reality on the ground in terms of insecurity, because when they were here, Saké was bombed, five bombs yesterday.”
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Goma, DR Congo - 2 March 2024
13. Congolese soldiers in Goma passing the convoy of SADC military officials
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Saké, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
14. Soldiers in armoured and light vehicles in Saké
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Goma, DR Congo - 2 March 2024
15. Muisa Christian, crossing a road
16. SOUNDBITE (French) Muisa Christian, resident of Goma:
“We remain sceptical because we know that the future of the Congo in terms of security issues can only come from internal strategies given by the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) and not by the SADC countries.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saké, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
17. SADC tanks at the entrance to Saké
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Goma, DR Congo - 1 March 2024
18. FARDC armoured vehicles escorting SADC officials to Goma
STORYLINE:
Top army officials from a southern African regional bloc on Saturday visited the restive eastern Congo region, where the renowned armed rebel group M23 is in the midst of a new advance.
The chiefs of defence staff of the member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held a high level meeting to assess the situation amid an upsurge in fighting in recent weeks between M23 rebels and Congo army forces.
They included Army General Jacob John Mkunda from Tanzania, Major General Kashisha from Malawi, Army General Maphwanya Sizani from South Africa, and General Prime Niyongabo from Burundi.
It was their first coordination meeting since the deployment of SADC troops in North Kivu.
But some residents of Goma city expressed scepticism.
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