The following stills are taken from video footage [1] reportedly showing
M23 forces [2] entering the Eastern city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) on 20/11/2012.
It is unclear as to how an M53/59 Praga was obtained by M23. This type was not known to have been operated by DRC Government forces and therefore unlikely to have been captured or subject of defection. A United Nation report [3] has also indicated
support for M23 from neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda, including the supply of
weapons, though neither country was a known operator of this type [4].
Notes:
[1] The original source of this footage is not known but has been syndicated to several news organisations including IBTimes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqchPEyk_rk & [UK] Channel 4 News http://www.channel4.com/news/congo-rebels-claim-control-of-city-as-rwanda-tensions-rise (both accessed 08/12/2012)
[2]
The M23 (Mouvement du 23 Mars/March 23 Movement) is a rebel military group engaged
in armed conflict with the DRC Government in the eastern province of North Kivu. The name M23 refers to a peace accord signed
on 23/03/2009 between the DRC Government and the former rebel group National Congress for the Defence of the People
(CNDP). M23 was formed in April 2012
following the mutiny of several hundred Government soldiers, the majority of whom were former members
of CNDP, integrated into DRC army under the peace accord.
[3] S/2012/843 http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843 (Accessed 08/12/2012)
[4] Uganda is assessed to be the most plausible source; 1) Uganda procured similar era Czechoslovakian armoured vehicles (OT-64A) (SIPRI) and could have conceivably received M53/59 Pragas. 2) Libya was a known operator the M53/59 Praga (SIPRI) and Uganda could have indirectly obtained some when Libyan forces were deployed in support of Uganda during the war with Tanzania in 1978-79.
[3] S/2012/843 http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843 (Accessed 08/12/2012)
[4] Uganda is assessed to be the most plausible source; 1) Uganda procured similar era Czechoslovakian armoured vehicles (OT-64A) (SIPRI) and could have conceivably received M53/59 Pragas. 2) Libya was a known operator the M53/59 Praga (SIPRI) and Uganda could have indirectly obtained some when Libyan forces were deployed in support of Uganda during the war with Tanzania in 1978-79.
quite likely they got these m53/59 from former yugoslavia (serbia). look at the typical id number in front of the vehicle.
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