The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has reclaimed the town of Kalembe from M23 rebels in the eastern region. Kalembe, located in the militia-infested Walikale territory of North Kivu, was seized by the rebels from Congolese armed forces and pro-government groups. The M23 insurgency has been ongoing since 2022, with Congo and the United Nations accusing Rwanda of supporting the group, a claim denied by Rwanda.
Congo army spokesman Sylvain Ekenge confirmed the retaking of Kalembe on Monday, mentioning that the fighting between the Wazalendo and M23 occurred in areas outside army control. Military reinforcements were flown in by helicopters to address the situation. Despite the army’s success, fighting continues in nearby areas according to Walikale territory official Kabaki Alimasi.
The M23 conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in North Kivu, displacing around 2.6 million people by the end of September. Negotiations between Congo and Rwanda are ongoing in Luanda, Angola, in an effort to end the ongoing violence.
Source link