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Typing this now, I stare at a framed dusty unit guidon, the pennant that once flew over that isolated sandbagged base of ours and was gifted to me by my soldiers.

Fighting has raged between two groups of the NDC-R since July 9 when a section loyal to deputy leader Gilbert Bwira Shuo attempted to oust their leader Shimiray Guidon, who is the target of U.N. sanctions, accusing him of human rights abuses.

It said Guidon’s deputy had taken over and that fighters plan to disarm as soon as possible, without giving further details.

Army spokesperson Guillaume Ndjike Kaiko said Guidon’s departure was a result of military pressure, even though analysts say the army often uses the NDC-R as a proxy force to go after other militias in eastern Congo.

In a statement, the group accused Guidon of “deviant behaviour” and criticised him for human rights abuses.