This recent transfer of fifteen individuals is far from an isolated gesture, representing a significant step in a complex process. Four months prior to these men embarking on their journey, a pivotal protocol was discreetly signed near Montreux, establishing an agreement between the AFC/M23 and the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR). This largely confidential document ultimately cleared the path for what has become this initial, long-anticipated operation. However, this protocol itself was not the first engagement on the matter; an earlier deadline in April had already passed without any releases taking place. Thus, these fifteen men became the critical live test for a process already marked by several missed opportunities and prior delays.

The fifteen men had been held in Beni for several weeks. While their presence in the city had been noted earlier, the precise circumstances of their arrival remained unclear at the time. Their detention had extended over several months. The International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR), whose mandate strictly confines its involvement to the transportation and handover of individuals once they are concentrated at a designated point, had not yet intervened. It is understood that the institution’s role commences only when the individuals are physically assembled, not before. The method by which these fifteen men were brought from Kinshasa to Beni, however, continues to be ambiguous. Challenges in governmental coordination were noted, though specific details regarding these issues remained elusive.