By KT Reporter
The March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have claimed the capture of Katogota village in Uvira territory, South Kivu province.
The rebels claimed the capture of the village which has been acting as a position for opponents on Friday. According to locals, the rebels took over the village after violent clashes with government forces (FARDC) and coalition under their umbrella Wazalendo (patriots). Katogota is located 80 kilometres to the town of Uvira.
Colonel Samuel Nsabimana, an officer of the G-5 of M23 was heard addressing locals as he issued a one week ultimatum to Wazalendo to lay down guns and surrender or else be hunted down and captured.
The capture of Katogota village comes three days after M23 rebels also advanced and captured Luhwindja Chiefdom,same province, an area that hosts Twangiza mining that mines Gold in the area.
The capture of Katogota could give M23 rebels an advantage of advancing to Uvira, Kakemie and Lubumbashi. The DR Congo government has not yet commented about M23’s latest advance.
The capture of the area continues to raise suspicion of M23 rebels not looking back despite ongoing talks with DR Congo government in Qatar.
On Wednesday, Lt.Col.Willy Ngoma, M23 rebels military spokesperson while addressing a meeting in Bukavu city declared that M23 will never go back and will stay until the return of Christ.
M23 rebels control the majority of areas in North and South Kivu provinces including Goma, Bukavu cities, Goma international airport and Kavumu airport. Since the resumption of the M23 insurgency in 2022, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, the DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 deny.
The rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia and discrimination within the DR Congo’s leadership-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
