Tension is high in Kibumba, North Kivu between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels and Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers.
There has been non-stop fighting since Saturday with each group accusing another of launching attacks. On Monday afternoon, M23rebels President, Bertrand Bisimwa released a short statement accusing FARDC and militia coalition of using heavy artillery and aviation into action to bombard M23 positions and surrounding areas.
He also accuses them of shooting dead a village leader identified as Biraro Semito,50, in Karengela.
“the forces of the Kinshasa regime are immediately resuming their indiscriminate bombardments on Kibumba, Buhumba, and the surrounding area. They put heavy artillery and aviation into action. Our forces ARC /M23 defend themselves and protect the population”, claims Bisimwa.
Lawrence Kanyuka, M23 rebels’ political spokesperson also released a statement with accusations. Kanyuka says that M23 is defending itself and protecting the civilians.
“Government forces, FARDC, FDLR, MERCENARIES, RESERVIST MILITIA & ALLIES, are indiscriminately bombing the densely populated areas of Kibumba, Buhumba and their surroundings using heavy artillery & combat aircraft. The M23 protects the civilian population” says Kanyuka.
Fighting has put transport along the Goma-Rutshuru road at a standstill. FARDC and the militia coalition are yet to release an official statement about the intensified nonstop fighting.
But a highly placed source in FARDC told our reporter on condition of anonymity that Semito was the coordinator of M23 rebels in the area and has been on their wanted list.
In March 2022, M23 rebels led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General Sultan Makenga launched a war against the government.
The fighting led DR Congo authorities to close the Uganda-DR Congo border of Bunagana in June 2022. Up to date, it has yet to resume operations.
The DR Congo government accuses Rwanda of backing M23, but Rwanda and M23 strongly deny it. The rebels claim to fight against bad leadership in DR Congo based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination.