This prisoner transfer was far from an isolated incident. Four months prior to these fifteen individuals embarking on their journey, a confidential protocol had already been signed near Montreux, involving the AFC/M23 and the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR). This document, which remained largely undisclosed, ultimately paved the way for this initial operation. However, this protocol was not the first scheduled engagement on this matter; an earlier deadline in April had already passed without any releases occurring. Thus, these fifteen men became the real-world test for a process already characterized by several missed opportunities.

The fifteen men had been in Beni for several weeks before their presence in the city was noted, though the precise circumstances of their arrival remained unclear at the time. Their detention had extended over several months. The CICR, whose mandate is strictly limited to transportation and handover once individuals are consolidated at a specific point, had not yet intervened. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the institution only becomes involved once the persons are physically gathered, not before. The method by which these fifteen men were transported from Kinshasa to Beni remains ambiguous. The same sources indicated that governmental coordination may not have been optimal, without providing further details.

Further updates are anticipated…