Fighting Resumes in Eastern DRC as M23 Rebels Clash with Army
Fighting broke out on Sunday, August 25, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between the M23 rebels and the army, according to local media reports. The clashes occurred in Lubero, a locality near the border with Uganda, and have raised concerns about the fragile peace in the region.
Lubero is strategically located on the axis that connects Butembo and Beni, two commercial hubs in the North-Kivu province. The area has been a hotspot for rebel activity in recent years, with the M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, operating in the region.
In a press statement released on Monday, August 26, the DRC army accused the M23 rebels of launching an attack on army positions in the village of Kikubo, violating a previously agreed ceasefire. Lieutenant-Colonel Ndjike Kaiko Guillaume, a spokesperson for the DRC army, stated that Congolese authorities will refer the matter to the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, a body comprising military experts from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Member States, South Africa, MONUSCO, and the African Union.
The conflict is a continuation of a long-standing dispute between the DRC and Rwanda, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of backing the M23 rebels who operate in the eastern North-Kivu province. Rwanda has denied these allegations.
On July 30, Angola announced a ceasefire agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, aimed at bringing an end to the violence. However, the recent clashes suggest that the agreement has not been effective in stabilizing the region.
Additional sources: Actualité.cd – RFI
