In eastern DRC, the war continues to pit the M23 rebels – supported by neighboring Rwanda – against the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – supported by local militias. Monday, December 23, the battles continued for control of several localities in the Lubero territory. At the same time, clashes were reported on another front: towards Kibumba, north of Goma, where an uneasy calm had reigned for several weeks.
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Detonations of heavy and light weapons rang out on Kanyamahoro hill, on the road leading to Kibumba, only about twenty kilometers from Goma: this had not happened for weeks. The first shots were reported early Monday afternoon.
According to civil society, fighting also took place in Kamatembe, in the heart of Virunga Park.
The last violent clashes in this area date back to early November. Kibumba is considered a lock protecting the city of Goma: two years ago, the M23 had agreed to withdraw in favor of the East African Community (EAC) force. But since then, the armed forces of the DRC (FARDC) never regained control of the entire locality.
Further north, in the Lubero, another front continues, the Congolese army continued its counter-offensive on Monday. On Sunday, December 22, it used combat helicopters to shell rebel positions. Objective: attempt to reconquer the strategic locality of Alimbongo which fell into the hands of the M23 and its allies a week ago during a lightning offensive.
Since then, the FARDC have already recaptured Ndoluma and Mambasa after violent fighting. But the situation there remains volatile.
Also readDRC: intense fighting in Lubero territory between the army and the M23
The National Press Union condemns “ firmly » the systematic looting of radio stations
200 km west of Goma, the Buleusa Community Radio in Walikale was ransacked by unidentified armed men during the latest clashes between the Wazalendo militias – who support the FARDC – and the M23 rebels – who support them speak Rwanda.
For the National Press Union (UNPC), North Kivu section, this act constitutes cruelty which endangers the right to information of local populations. Rosalie Zawadi, president of the UNPC, calls for the safety of journalists and their media in this period of conflict. This is so that the population does not also lose the right to information, especially since they already find themselves deprived of several rights.
“The National Press Union of Congo strongly condemns what happened and demands justice and reparation for community radios in North Kivu, most of which have been in distress since the start of this war”
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