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North Kivu, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | The March 23 Movement (M23) has lifted a curfew imposed in areas under its control in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. M23 imposed a curfew in areas of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo which it controls in October 2023.
Most targeted areas were along Kalengela-Kibumba, Kalengela-Tongo, Kiwanja-Kinyandoyi, and Burayi-Bunagana roads where traffic movement had been restricted from flowing between 5:30 pm-6:30 am. M23 did not give reasons behind imposing a curfew.
But, in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Benjamin Mbonimpa, the Executive Secretary of the M23 rebel Movement, M23 declares the lifting of the curfew.
In the statement, M23 urged members of the public in areas under its control to be vigilant and avoid infiltration by the opponents. The statement also urges members of the public to report any suspicious infiltrator to authorities installed by M23 for handling.
Despite M23 lifting the curfew, tension has remained on the ground due to continuous fighting on the fronts as well as reinforcements of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers under their umbrella Wazalendo (Patriots) and troops under Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops to recapture taken areas.
On Monday FARDC and troops under SADC started heavy deployment and installation of fighting positions on all corners of Goma city and Sake town to prevent M23 rebels from capturing them.
On Tuesday, fighting between M23 rebels and FARDC/ Wazalendo was reported in Ndumba hill along Shasha-Nyamubingwa road in Masisi territory.
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 and M23 strongly deny it. The rebels claim to fight against bad leadership in DR Congo based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination.
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