Congolese forces “denounce Kigali’s failure to respect the truce” announced by the United States

2 min

With our correspondent in Goma, Heir Baraka

In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the humanitarian truce announced on July 5, 2024 by the United States The two-week peace deal has already been broken off. The Congolese army accuses Rwandan-backed M23 rebels of attacking its positions in Masisi territory.

Local and security sources report that M23 fighters took control of the village of Nyange on July 11, approximately 150 kilometers southeast of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

The ceasefire will therefore not have lasted even a week. Clashes with heavy and light weapons broke out this Thursday between the Congolese army supported by local armed groups and the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda.

The clashes have caused the displacement of the local population, according to the FARDC.

Lieutenant Colonel Ndjike Kaiko, spokesman for the army in North Kivu, accuses the M23 of attacking their positions: ” Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) terrorists launched simultaneous attacks at around 4:52 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, on the positions of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their partners located in the villages of Nyange and Mbati. The FARDC and their partners strongly denounce the Kigali regime’s failure to respect the said truce. »

Fighting began on Wednesday in Nyange and Kitso-Bibwe in Masisi territory. Civil society and residents confirm that the M23 entered these two localities, but the rebel group then withdrew from the locality of Bibwe on Thursday evening. The clashes caused the displacement of the local population according to the Congolese military. For its part, the M23 has not yet reacted to the army’s accusations.

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