On Saturday, Patrick Katembwe Muyaya, DR Congo’s Minister of Communication and Media and Government Spokesperson revealed that the soldiers are defending their positions and preventing the rebels from progressing to Walikale town, the airfield and new localities.
The Armed
Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers have put up resistance preventing
the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels from capturing Pinga airfield in Walikale
territory, North Kivu province.
M23 rebels this week captured the villages of Malemo and Mpeti located about 10 kilometres from Pinga airfield in
Walikale town.
Once
rebels capture Pinga airfield, it will be to their advantage to block the supply of
FARDC and coalition aircraft using air transport.
It will also put the neighbouring provinces of Maniema and Tshopo at risk of falling into rebel hands.
On Saturday, Patrick Katembwe Muyaya, DR Congo’s Minister of Communication and
Media and Government Spokesperson revealed that the soldiers are defending
their positions and preventing the rebels from progressing to Walikale town,
the airfield and new localities.
M23
rebels are yet to respond to Muyaya’s statement. No fighting was reported
on all the fronts on Saturday, though tension remains high.
Both parties
have been accusing each other of ceasefire violations.
The
conflict between M23 and the Congolese government began in March 2022, led by
Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga.
The war led to the M23/AFC
capture and control of large parts of Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo and Lubero
territories in North Kivu province. The DR Congo government has repeatedly
accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 deny. The
rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia and
discrimination within the DR Congo's leadership.
