DRC: Congolese army accuses M23 of launching attacks against 4 of its positions
M23 rebels in Kibumba, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on December 23, 2022. AFP - GLODY MURHABAZI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Hardly had the African Union summit ended and the ceasefire demands reformulated by the countries of East Africa, than fighting resumed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Congolese army accuses the M23 of having launched attacks against four of its positions last night.
Advertisement
Read more
According to a FARDC press release, the M23 rebels attacked at dawn on Monday February 20 "
simultaneously the army positions in the villages of Kyehemba, Butchalwichi, Kihusha and Lubula
" and fighting continued throughout the day between the localities of Kitshanga and Mweso.
This was confirmed to us by members of civil society in Masisi and Rutshuru, these territories located northwest of Goma.
Two other villages would have been taken in the territory of Masisi, but no report is available for the time being.
These attacks follow movements by the M23 in recent days.
According to one of our interlocutors, “
10 rebel trucks were seen in the region so the attack was not a surprise
”.
The Congolese army evokes "
massive displacements of civilian populations
" and accuses the Rwandan defense forces and the M23.
►
Read also In Addis Ababa, a mini-summit of heads of state on the peace process in eastern DRC
The FARDC thus underline that the guns have not been silent despite the holding of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa this weekend.
And in particular the meeting on Friday of the leaders of the EAC, the East African community.
They had reiterated their call for an “ immediate
” ceasefire
in eastern Congo and demanded the “
withdrawal of all armed groups by March 30
”.
The Congolese army asks them to "
see the blunders and draw the consequences
"
►
See also Killings of Kishishe in DR Congo: an Amnesty report highlights dozens of rapes
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
ground floor
M23
Defense