The M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, seized again on Wednesday October 23 the town of Kalembe, in North Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Sunday, the M23 took the town located more than 150 km west of Goma, before being pushed back by the “Wazalendo”, pro-Kinshasa militiamen.
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With our correspondent in Goma, Heir Baraka
The new fighting broke out around 5 a.m. local time on Wednesday, October 23. Heavy weaponry and gunshots caused general panic in the town of Kalembe, east of the DRC. By late morning, the rebels had succeeded to take control of the locality.
A decline that a spokesperson for the “Wazalendo”, pro-government militias, does not confirm, even if the latter admits loss of a position for the benefit of M23. According to administrative and security sources, fighters allied to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) withdrew towards the village of Malemo, in the strategic territory of Walikale.
Clashes in several localities
More than 40,000 people live in Kalembe. A city located on a crucial road axis, which provides access to mining deposits of gold, coltan and diamonds, in Walikale in North Kivu.
On Wednesday, rebels also took control of Ihula village in the same area, and further fighting between M23 and “Wazalendo” took place in Kahira, Masisi territory.
These fighting come after weeks of calm, while a ceasefire had been in force since the beginning of August, and while the negotiations are struggling to succeed between Rwanda and Kinshasa.
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