Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured a disputed town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, marking a fresh violation of the ceasefire agreed upon in August, according to local sources reported by AFP.
Since initiating their offensive in late 2021, the predominantly Tutsi M23 militia has taken control of significant areas in eastern DRC, displacing thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis.
The ceasefire between the DRC army and the M23, brokered by Angola, had largely been upheld by both the Congolese and Rwandan armies, although it faced regular violations by armed groups linked to these forces. On Wednesday, the M23 re-entered the town of Kalembe after engaging in combat with the Wazalendo, a militia coalition supporting the Congolese army, as confirmed by multiple sources.
Kabaki Mwanankoyo, a local leader in Kalembe, stated, “We can confirm that the M23 controls Kalembe.” A security source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted, “The M23 has been pushing out the Wazalendo” since around 10:00 AM local time (0800 GMT). Wazalendo spokesperson Marcellin Shenkuku described the situation, saying, “The enemy is using all its artillery to massacre us” and “has managed to take one of our positions.” However, he added, “for the moment, it’s difficult to say who is in control of Kalembe.”
The M23 first entered Kalembe on Sunday in North Kivu province but was initially pushed back by a pro-Kinshasa militia. The occupation of Kalembe by the M23 was labeled a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire by the Angolan government, which condemned the action in a statement on Monday. The government declared, “We reject and vigorously condemn this hostile act, which jeopardizes ongoing efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict.”
Kalembe, home to around 40,000 residents, is situated along one of the two primary roads in the area, granting access to gold, coltan, and diamond deposits in the Walikale territory of western North Kivu province. This mineral-rich region has been beset by a multitude of rival rebel groups and has experienced internal and cross-border violence for the past three decades.
