DR Congo Troops Face M23 Rebels, Rwandan Allies In North Kivu
Hostilities between both countries continue to rise as Rwanda-supported M23 rebels continue to hold towns in DR Congo while negotiations between both countries stall.
Fighting resumed Tuesday, Aug.16, 2022, between the Democratic Republic of Congo national army, FARDC and rebels of the March 23 (M23) movement together with their Rwandan allies.
According to reliable sources, at 3 a.m. this morning, gun battles resumed around the Rwanguba bridge in Tanda and towards Muhimbira, about 20km from Rutshuru centre.
“The M23 rebels say they were being attacked by the Congolese army. It is difficult at this moment to give casualty figures. Ten days ago, other clashes were reported around the Rumangabo camp, which is situated about 40km from Goma,” a civil society source who opted for anonymity said.
The clashes are coming when the diplomatic process for peace between Dr Congo and Rwanda is not advancing.
M23 rebels have captured and been holding Bunagana town for about two months, an important commercial centre and transit point for merchandise where the DR Congo government daily receives thousands of US dollars in customs duty. M23 rebels also occupy other localities neighbouring Bunagana.
The M23 rebel movement does not seem ready to evacuate Bunagana any time soon and says it is waiting for dialogue with the DR Congo authorities.
Further conversations are expected between President Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, according to the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who visited the two countries recently.
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