Heavy fighting has once again been reported in parts of Masisi and Kalehe in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as government forces, FARDC, backed by Wazalendo fighters, engage the AFC-M23 armed group.
Residents in the area say FARDC troops and allied fighters have launched fresh military operations aimed at pushing back AFC-M23, particularly along the Remeka–Lumbishi road.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said clashes were reported in an area known as Tuonane, before reaching Kasake in Masisi Territory.
“There is fighting between Wazalendo and FARDC in Tuonane, before reaching Kasake in Masisi Territory,” the resident said.
The renewed fighting has forced some residents in affected areas to flee their homes in search of safer locations.
Meanwhile, AFC-M23 has accused the authorities in Kinshasa of continuing to deploy fighters and allied armed groups to the front lines.
In a statement issued by the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, he said that on Wednesday, September 16, FARDC forces, FDLR fighters, Burundian troops and Wazalendo groups launched attacks in several locations.
Kanyuka said the attacks targeted densely populated areas in Kalehe Territory, including Kivoka, Kadasomwa and Gashihe, as well as several locations in Masisi Territory, including Kadahandwa, Nkokwe, Muko, Remeka and Kumadepo.
The AFC-M23 spokesperson also said the attacks had triggered the displacement of civilians from the affected areas.
However, the allegations made by AFC-M23 regarding the attacks and the extent of the areas reportedly targeted have not been independently verified by neutral sources.
Reports from parts of Masisi and Kalehe indicate that the security situation remains volatile in some areas, with many residents continuing to move away from their homes amid fears of renewed clashes.
Fighting in the region frequently forces civilians to flee, particularly in communities located close to the front lines, as rival forces continue to compete for control of strategic areas.
The latest clashes come as efforts to find a political solution to the security crisis in eastern DRC continue to face difficulties.
Talks between the Congolese government and representatives of AFC-M23 are ongoing under the Doha peace process, which seeks to establish a political pathway toward ending the fighting and finding a lasting solution to the security crisis in eastern DRC.
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