In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, M23 rebels supported by Rwanda took control of the border town of Ishasha with Uganda this Sunday, August 4. The capture of this border post was done without fighting after the withdrawal of the self-defense groups known as wazalendo and the police. An advance that comes on the first day of the ceasefire announced by Luanda.
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With our correspondent in Goma, Heir Baraka
According to local and security sources, the fighters of M23 took Ishasha early this Sunday afternoon. The rebels’ advance in this border post with theUganda was made without fighting. On the eve of the fighting, local armed groups supporting the FARDC withdrew from the area. Elements of the police and some members of the security services, who were still there, crossed into Uganda, according to administrative and police sources, who claim to have been disarmed by the Ugandan authorities.
In the evening, the M23 held a meeting in front of the population of the area. This capture of this town of more than 11,000 inhabitants comes on the first day of the ceasefire announced by Luanda. A security source under cover of anonymity accused the Rwanda of provocation.
The city of Ishasha, located southeast of Lake Edward, provides easy access to the north of North Kivu province via the lake to the port city of Nyakakoma. On Saturday, the rebels had taken control of the city of Nyamilima, still in Rutshuru territory.
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