Goma : agglomerations of Kishali and Ihula fall into the hands of M23

Since Wednesday, October 23, the M23 has controlled agglomerations of Kishali and Ihula in Walikale territory. It was after violent fighting that opposed the armed group and the FARDC and its auxiliaries in the province of North Kivu in the east of the DRC. The civil society in the region asks the Congolese army to send reinforcements so as not to give way to M23. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The two agglomerations fell into the hands of the M23 after violent fighting, according to local sources.

“There has been intense fighting until the FARDC and the Wazalendo (local militias maintained by Congolese authorities) flee. Now, M23 fighters are everywhere, they are heavily armed. They even occupy positions that were held by the army,” said residents of Walikale.

Villages of Pinga and Kalonge were also won over as well as a large part of the territory of Rutshuru via the small town of Kalembe, according to residents.

The civil society worried

The civil society fears the extension of areas conquered by the M23 if nothing is done.

“The capture of Walikale-Centre risks strengthening these rebels in their adventure to fight the loyalist army. It is a mining zone which is strongly coveted by the rebels. It takes a reinforcement to repel them”, alert Sileil Bayomba, activist of the civil society in Walikale.

He fears in particular that the M23 fighters will widen their conquest towards other areas of South Kivu, Maniema and the province of Tshopo.

The M23 is a former Tutsi rebellion which took over the arms at the end of 2021, accusing Congolese authorities of not having respected their commitments on the reintegration of its fighters. Congolese authorities remain convinced that it has support from Rwanda, which the Rwandan government continues to sweep away from the hand.

Since mid June 2022, it has controlled several areas of the province of North Kivu, including the border city with Uganda, Bunagana where it has installed its headquarters. In occupied areas, the M23 has installed a parallel administration there.