Fresh Fighting Reported in North Kivu

Fresh fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels and militia coalition under their umbrella Wazalendo has been reported in North Kivu, a day after Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi again rejected dialogue.  

In his speech on Wednesday at the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tshisekedi said that DR Congo will never hold any dialogue with M23 rebels describing them as terrorists supported by neighboring Rwanda. 

He accused them of continuously killing innocent civilians under their conquered positions. He also asked the UN Security Council to sanction all perpetrators and co-perpetrators of serious crimes committed in the DRC, in particular Rwanda which acts as an under cover of the March 23 Movement (M23).    

“In fact, not only have they not left their conquered positions, but they continue to massacre our civilian populations and refuse pre-cantonment and cantonment, demanding a dialogue which will never be granted to them”, argues Tshisekedi.  

Responding to Tshisekedi’s comments, Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23 political spokesperson released a statement on Thursday saying that the President's statement is a continuation of bad governance and anti-values. “The incendiary, divisionist speech of President Tshisekedi Tshilombo and the continuation of predation (bad governance and anti-values) encourage the Congolese to engage in a revolutionary movement,” says Kanyuka in a statement.     

On Thursday, Laurent Mugiraneza, a leader of civil Society in Rutshuru decried the fresh heavy deployment of M23 rebels in the areas of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo.  

Mugiraneza says that the deployment may affect learning that had resumed in the area after two years of shutdown.  He also says that since Thursday morning clashes between M23 rebels and self-defense militia groups of Mai Mai and Nyatura in the village of Busumba, Rutshuru territory.      

Clashes caused massive displacement of locals towards nearby areas of Rugogwe, Kihunda, Muhongozi, and others to Mweso and Kitshanga. 

In March 2022, the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo fell into security turmoil after the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General Sultan Makenga launched a war against the government.  The majority of positions were conquered by rebels in fierce fighting. 

The fighting led to the suspension of the education sector in the territories until September 4, 2023, when it resumed. 

Rebels started withdrawing from the conquered areas in December 2022 following the deployment of peacekeeping troops from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan.        

M23 launched a war against the DR Congo government, specifically the North Kivu province in March 2022. The DR Congo government accuses Rwanda of backing M23, but Rwanda and M23 strongly deny it. The rebels claim to fight against bad leadership in DR Congo based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination.