The Mach 23 Movement (M23) on Tuesday paraded three suspected Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo(FARDC) soldiers, claiming they were captured during the recent heavy fighting in Lubero territory, North Kivu province.
Lawrence Kanyuka, M23 Political Spokesperson and Lt.Col. Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson paraded the three FARDC soldiers and claimed that they were captured during fighting on Monday.
In a video released by Kanyuka, the paraded soldiers introduced themselves as; Sergeant Major Alexis Katakoka, Second class soldiers Tombo Dadi and Ezaie Kamwa Umbere. The captured soldiers say that they were sent to the frontline by General Chico Tshitambwe, the head of Military Operations in North Kivu province to recover all areas under M23 control before December 15.
Kanyuka and Ngoma described claims that FARDC had recaptured some areas under M23 control in Lubero territory as propaganda. FARDC is yet to release a statement confirming if the captured soldiers are theirs or not.
On Monday, all the fronts woke up in a lull of gun sounds, but tension has stayed since all parties are on standby to resume fighting, according to locals in the area.
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, 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.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DR Congo counterpart Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo are expected to attend a meeting next week in Angola’s capital Luanda.
By KT Reporter
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