North Kivu: resumption of fighting in Masisi and Rutshuru territories after elections

Violent clashes between local militias and M23 rebels have been reported since Sunday, December 24 in Karuba, a town in the groupment of the same name in the Bahunde chiefdom, in Masisi territory, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to local civil society, elements of the local “Wazalendo” armed groups led an attack against M23 positions in the mountains overlooking the town, pushing them to taking a part of the city. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

These clashes caused a massive relocation of civilian citizens to neighboring villages, following the sounds of heavy and light weapons.

“Until now, the city of Karuba is divided into two parts, one under the control of the Wazalendo, the other controlled by the M23, except for a last minute change,” indicated a member of local civil society.

According to the same source, from the self-defense groups, “we are reporting strong resistance which reassures the population of a victory in the following hours, if nothing changes.”

The situation is not much better in Rutshuru.

After a moment of calm in the Rutshuru territory, clashes have resumed since the morning of Sunday, December 24 in the Mushebere and Bumbasha villages in the Bukombo groupment, Bwito chiefdom in North Kivu.

“M23 attacked local armed groups “Wazalendo” on Mushebere hill, and a post located in the center of the Bumbasha village.
Residents of the place are fleeing to entities deemed secure including Mweso in the neighboring Masisi territory, Katsiru, Muhongozi and some others in the JTN village,” according to local sources.

The hostilities triggered widespread panic among the population of Mweso and surrounding areas in Masisi territory, as these are areas close to the villages attacked in Rutshuru.

The same civil society sources specify that the clashes damages have not yet been revealed, apart from a few houses demolished by bombs.

Note that these clashes intensified a few days after a lull observed on all front lines following the holding of elections in the DRC, at the request of the international community.