By KT Reporter
Fierce clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their Wazalendo militia allies against the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in North Kivu’s Lubero territory continued into their eighth day on Monday.
The FARDC claims to have dislodged M23 rebels from their Luofu stronghold over the weekend, but by Monday afternoon, heavy fighting resumed as M23 rebels attempted to reclaim the area. Locals reported intense battles near Katwa, close to the Kirumba Community, with FARDC also engaging in efforts to push rebels from strategic positions in Kaseghe, Kibaku, and surrounding areas.
The fighting has displaced large numbers of locals and paralyzed both business and traffic. Over the weekend, several drivers and passengers traveling through Lubero were detained and taken to Beni by security forces, who suspected that M23 rebels had infiltrated the area. On Monday afternoon, some detainees were released, according to FARDC spokesperson MaK Hazukay, while others remain under investigation. The arrests sparked anger among the local population.
In Masisi territory, heavy clashes erupted on Monday in areas such as Kiuli, Rutobogo, and the Vunano mountains in Kamuronza. The M23 rebels launched fresh attacks on FARDC positions, causing significant disruptions. Traffic was paralyzed along the Sake-Kirotshe, Sake-Mushaki, and Sake-Kimoka-Kitshanga roads. Shells dropped near Kimoka, about 2 kilometers from Sake’s center, causing panic but no civilian casualties. Intense fighting was also reported in Miole and Bukumbirire villages within the Mupfunyi-Kibabi groupement of Masisi territory.
The conflict between M23 rebels, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, and the Congolese government began in March 2022. The rebels now control significant parts of North Kivu province. In August 2024, the M23 leadership allied with Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, former chairman of the DRC’s electoral commission and leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), further escalating their insurgency. The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, a claim denied by both Rwanda and the M23. The rebels maintain that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Congolese leadership-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
