In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting between armed groups has been reported in recent days near Kisigari, about fifty kilometers from Goma, in the territories occupied by the rebels of the M23.
With our correspondent in Goma, Coralie Pierret
Difficult to communicate with the populations concerned as the area is under the control of M23 rebels. Towards Kisigari, a group of localities located about 50 kilometers from the regional capital Goma, the situation seems confused since this weekend. Clashes have opposed on one side the rebel group of Rwandan origin FDLR, established around and in the Virunga park for several years, and on the other the rebels of the M23, confirms a source.
Also in this area, several villages were deserted by the inhabitants ” on order of M23 “, according to local civil society. She adds that part of the population spends the night outside without knowing where to go.
So why would the rebels ask these inhabitants to leave villages that are nevertheless under their control? Is it because the area is threatened by FDLR or Nyatura armed groups? The area was looted, accuses a local official. Looting also denounced by the Congolese police on Twitter. False, answers the M23, who stay in these positionsdespite the injunctions to withdraw from the Kinshasa government and despite the conclusions of the Luanda summit at the end of November.
Systematic looting of the BIRUMA village by the M23, in the GISIGARI Group, BWISHA Chiefdom.
— PNC (@comgenpnc) December 12, 2022