Fighting erupts in DR Congo as EAC troops start departing

North Kivu, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | Fighting between March 23 Movement rebels and Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers is raging in Masisi territory has started hours after the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) started to withdraw from North Kivu province.

On Sunday, the first batch of Kenyan troops in North Kivu exited. About 300 troops boarded a plane at Goma International Airport, after DR Congo government declined to renew the peace keeping mission troops’ mandate set to expire on December 8, 2023.

The DRC government accuses EACRF troops of failure to tame the M23 rebels.

This morning heavy fighting between the belligerents erupted in Kilorirwe, Karenga, Kabati, Rumeneti and their surroundings in Masisi territory.  M23 rebels were seen at  Kagoma hill in the village of Malehe as  FARDC and militia coalition shelled their positions from Kiabati-kingi.

The fighting caused massive displacement of civilians towards Sake.

Lawrence Kanyuka,  the M23 rebels political spokesperson released a statement accusing FARDC soldiers plus a militia coalition of launching attacks on civilians and them.

“It should be noted that since early this morning the coalition forces of the Kinshasa Government, notably the FARDC, FDLR, MERCENARIES, MILITIA and THE NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCES OF BURUNDI have been massacring the civilian population in revenge for their FDLR comrade killed yesterday in Tuwonone, known as Colonel Ruhinda,” he said.

“At the same time, the forces of this evil coalition of the Kinshasa Government launched widespread attacks against all our positions in Kilorirwe, Karenga, Kabati, Rumeneti and their surroundings. The M23 continues to defend itself and protect the civilian population and its property. The humanitarian crisis is unprecedented.”

The mandate of troops from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan deployed in North Kivu province in late 2022 was to reclaim positions that were previously held by the M23 rebels after they defeated the Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers and to establish a buffer zone to prevent further clashes between M23 rebels and FARDC soldiers.

This is in accordance to resolutions made and approved by the East African Regional Heads of State Conclave held on April, 21 2022 in Nairobi, Extra Ordinary Summit of East African presidents (Bujumbura) on February 4, 2023, and the decisions of the Chief of Defense Forces of February 9, 2023 in Nairobi.

In March 2022, M23 led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General Sultan Makenga launched a war against the government.  The DR Congo government accuses Rwanda of backing M23, but Rwanda strongly denies it.  The rebels say they are fighting against bad leadership.

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