Refugees from Chanzu village Eastern DRC have flooded Bunagana border post after heavy fighting.
It has been reported that Unidentified armed men attacked Chanzu village on the night of November 7-8, southeast of the capital of Rutshuru territory, in North Kivu province.
It was around 11pm that the heavily armed attackers, apparently from Virunga National Park, simultaneously attacked the villages of Chanzu and Runyonyi, confirm several sources in the region.
Some sources indicate that the alleged rebels were from the March 23 movement (M23). Clashes with the FARDC lasted until 3am on Monday, November 8, indicates civil society in Rutshuru.
Heavy and light weapons fire was extended all night until the early hours of Monday, causing great panic among the population, sources in the region say.
The same source affirms that the army, in reduced strength, would have made a “strategic withdrawal to Kisiza, 2 km from Chanzu”.
There is no balance sheet available from two sides at the moment.
Sources corroborating in Rutshuru say that a large part of the population of Chanzu fled to Bunagana, a locality on the border with Uganda and the Catholic parish of Jomba.
Residents of Kinyangurube, Ndiza, Mbuzi and Jomba villages have all emptied their villages.
The hills of Chanzu and Runyonyi would for the moment be under occupation by the attackers, indicates a local NGO. The FARDC are arriving in Bunagana as reinforcements, to visibly try to recover the two hills, testify some residents.
All socio-economic activities in these agglomerations remain paralyzed on Monday.
The Bunagana border, on the border with Uganda, would be closed by order of the administrator of the territory. The army promises to speak out shortly.
