In eastern DRC, fighting again rocked the crossroads town of Kitshanga this weekend. On Saturday, violent clashes took place there between the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda according to several sources, and armed groups close to the Congolese authorities in Kinshasa. Since the resumption of hostilities at the end of 2021, rebels, the army and pro-government militias have been competing for control of this strategic city.
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With our correspondent in Goma, Coralie Pierret
A little over a week ago, some journalists were escorted to Kitshanga by different armed men, all loyalists to the regular Congolese authorities. The objective of this press trip was to show the “ climate of peace » in the locality and to prove that it was no longer in the hands of the March 23 Movement, the M23.
This Congolese rebellion, supported by the Rwanda according to Kinshasa and the United Nations, had seized of this crossroads city in January 2023 before giving way to the East African troops of the EAC, supposed to act as a buffer in this war between the Congolese army and the M23.
But on Saturday, violent clashes between rebels and pro-government armed groups shook Kitshanga again. This Sunday, one of the M23 spokespersons confirmed on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that his movement was indeed present in the city.
For its part, the Congolese army remains discreet. She continues to affirm that she is not taking part in the fighting and that she respects the ceasefire against the rebels.