In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, M23 rebels supported by Rwanda took control on Sunday of the town of Matembe, more than 150 kilometers north of Goma in Lubero territory.
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With our correspondent in Goma, Heir Baraka
The capture of the town of Matembe took place in the morning after violent clashes between M23 fighters and the Congolese army supported by the Wazalendo, according to local and administrative sources.
A security source on condition of anonymity affirms that “ the enemy shells with his tank and his artillery » and recognizes that the army lost the left bank of Matembe.
This locality, located on the RN2, was until then considered a strategic position for the FARDC. A wall to slow down the advance of the rebels towards the capital of the territory, Lubero center, located around fifty km away, and the town of Butembo further north.
These very violent fighting caused an influx of hundreds of displaced people who fled to Kitsumbiro and the surrounding area, according to local civil society.
For two weeks, intense fighting between the M23 and the FARDC has been reported in the area despite calls to respect the ceasefire launched by Luanda to both parties. This advance by the M23 comes as the tripartite between the Congolese, Rwandan and Angolan presidents as part of the Luanda process was canceled following the absence of Rwanda which refuses to sign an agreement as long as the DRC does not agree to discuss with the armed group.
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