FARDC Regains Control of Matembe Area

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has announced that it has dislodged the March 23 Movement (M23) from the Matembe area in the South of Lubero territory as non-stop fighting continued for the 11th day.     

Lieutenant Reagen Mbuyi, FARDC spokesman for the s Northern Front released a statement on Thursday saying that the FARDC regained control of the area on Wednesday evening. Mbuyi says that by the time M23 rebels got dislodged from the positions in Matembe, gunfire exchange lasted for 24 hours. He says that FARDC responded and took positions after M23 launched an assault.   

He adds that FARDC will defend the country up to the end.  M23 has not yet released a statement about FARDC’s latest announcement. 

Fighting broke out in the wee hours of Thursday morning at around 5:00 AM in Luofu, 2 antennas and Kaseghe causing mass displacement of the civilians. Each party is currently controlling some positions in Luofu, according to locals in the area.  

The latest non-stop gunfire exchange between FARDC soldiers and M23 is the longest since the insurgency started in March 2022. 

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.