Approximately 60 kilometers from Rutshuru town, the rebels held a public address following the capture, urging locals to remain calm and encouraging those who had fled to Uganda to return home. They also called on other militia groups to join the M23 movement.
On Sunday evening, the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels claimed the capture of the Ishasha border in the north of Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This development gives them control over the majority of large towns in the territory.
The rebels captured the area in the Binza groupement, which borders the Ugandan side of Kanungu district, following heavy fighting with Wazalendo (patriots) militia in Buganza, located 4 km from Nyamilima. The Wazalendo militia retreated after M23 captured Nyamilima town on Saturday evening.
Approximately 60 kilometers from Rutshuru town, the rebels held a public address following the capture, urging locals to remain calm and encouraging those who had fled to Uganda to return home. They also called on other militia groups to join the M23 movement.
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Later, Lieutenant Colonel Willy Ngoma, the rebels’ military spokesperson, released a statement confirming the capture of the border by M23 fighters. Ngoma asserted that no government soldier would set foot at the border again.
“No genocidal coward from the Kinshasa government coalition, notably the FARDC-FDLR-SADC-ADF-MERCENAIRES-WAZALENDO, will set foot in our border city of Ishasha again. Felix Tshisekedi must leave,” Ngoma claimed.
The DR Congo government has yet to release a statement about the situation. Major Kiconco Tabaro, Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) 2nd Infantry Division Public Information Officer, confirmed that security intelligence had observed the capture of the border by the rebels. Tabaro stated that the Ugandan army remains on high alert to ensure security on their side of the border.
M23 rebels also captured the villages of Ngwenda, Nyabanira, Kasave, Kiseguro, Katwiguru, and Kisharo in Binza groupement after heavy fighting with the Wazalendo on Friday. This led to the fleeing of 98 Congolese police officers to Uganda through the Ishasha border. The capture of Ishasha border adds to the Bunagana and Busanza/Kitagoma borders already under rebel control.
The latest developments come two days after the expiration of the humanitarian truce requested by the United States government. It also coincides with the DR Congo and Rwandan government agreeing to hold ceasefire talks, following the Luanda meeting held this week. However, M23 released a statement arguing that they are not concerned about the resolutions since they were not part of the discussions.
The conflict between M23 and the Congolese government began in March 2022, led by Bisimwa and Makenga. M23-AFC controls large areas in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, and Lubero. The DR Congo government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim both Rwanda and M23 deny. The rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DR Congo's leadership.
