APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – Heavy fighting broke out Thursday in several parts across North Kivu Province near the border with Rwanda between M23 rebels and Congolese Government troops.
Several correspondents in the region reported that this is the most serious fighting since rebels threatened earlier this month further attacks to “protect local population” unless the government agrees to negotiate.
Ealier Wednesday, humanitarian agencies operating in the region reported that thousands of people have been displaced in the war that started since 2021.
The conflict reignited in late 2021 after rebel General Sultani Makenga and 100 rebel fighters attacked the border town of Bunagana but failed. A few months later, with a much larger force, the rebels of the M23 movement renewed their attack and captured Bunagana.
Congolese Government troops have struggled to contain the rebels recruiting local paramilitary groups known as “Wazalendo” (patriots, in Kiswahili language) in the hope of building alliances against M23.
A statement issued on February 7 by M23 Spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said: “The M23 has no intention to seize Goma contrary to Kinshasa state-sponsored propaganda.
“However, artillery and air attacks targeting our forces and/or indiscriminate shelling of civilian populations will be dealt with at their source” Kanyuka said.
CU/abj/APA