Highlights: In the Congolese province of North Kivu, fighting broke out on Monday March 4 in the morning on several axes. Fighting took place between the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan army according to the UN, and loyalist forces in Kinshasa. Once again, population movements were noted towards areas that were difficult to access and with almost no humanitarian assistance. Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces are not deployed in this region. But one thing seems certain: the offensive nature of this mission.

In the Congolese province of North Kivu, fighting broke out on Monday March 4 in the morning on several axes, although it had been calm for several weeks. Fights between the M23 rebels, supported…

DRC: violent clashes in Rutshuru during an offensive by M23 rebels

In the Congolese province of North Kivu, fighting broke out on Monday March 4 in the morning on several axes, although it had been calm for several weeks.

Fighting took place between the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan army according to the UN, and loyalist forces in Kinshasa.

Once again, population movements were noted towards areas that were difficult to access and with almost no humanitarian assistance.

An M23 rebel stands next to the Rwindi River near the village of Mabenga in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

here in 2012. © Phil Moore / AFP

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Goma,

Coralie Pierret

In the early morning, violent clashes broke out in several localities around a hundred kilometers north of Goma, in the Rutshuru territory.

These attacks were launched simultaneously on several axes, notably around Mabenga and Nyanzale – the latter was also partly emptied of these inhabitants according to several sources fleeing the fighting, some of them with heavy weapons.

The fighting took place between

the Rwandan-backed M23

and the Congolese army allied with militiamen called Wazalendo.

The inhabitants risk finding themselves completely destitute: these areas are isolated, difficult to access and

humanitarian organizations are very little present there

Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces are not deployed in this region.

The organization's chiefs of staff were in a coordination meeting on Saturday March 2 in Goma, a first when we do not know the number of soldiers already present nor the progress of the arrival of the equipment military.

But one thing seems certain: the offensive nature of this mission.

Thursday February 29, SADC armored vehicles were hit by bombs and

two South African soldiers

died in mid-February near Goma.

Read alsoDRC: the use of more sophisticated weapons and air assets by the M23 armed group and Rwanda is worrying

DRC: violent clashes in Rutshuru during an offensive by M23 rebels

DRC: violent clashes in Rutshuru during an offensive by M23 rebels

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