Civil society in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu Province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is claiming that fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels’ in Rutshuru territory has left 14 civilians killed and 37,789 displaced.
Fighting between M23 rebels and FARDC soldiers broke out last month 28 after rebels attacked and captured three military positions in Tchanzu, Runyoni, and Ndiza in Rutshuru Territory, about three kilometers to the main border of Uganda-DRC.
Gunfire exchange also happened a day after at around mid-day in the hills of Murujinga, Rwanguba, and Mukiharo-Bunagana, three kilometers to the main border of Uganda-DRC as rebels descend to capture Bunagana border.
Rebels were however repelled by FARDC soldiers from conquering Bunagana border after about three and a half hours of fighting.
The fighting left four M23 rebels and three FARDC soldiers killed in Murujinga and Mukiharo-Bunagana, and about 10 rebels captured. Seventeen FARDC soldiers were injured.
Though rebels declared a cease-fire on this month, most of the refugees who had returned to their homes by Sunday evening started fleeing back to Kisoro district arguing citing insecurity in the area
Fighting again resumed on Wednesday this week and later FARDC through Colonel Muhindo Lwanzo, a member of the cabinet of the administrator of the military in Rutshuru announced that Bugusa, Tchengerero, Cheya, and Mbuzi hills, Bugusa hospital, and the Catholic parish of Kinyamahura, had been recovered from the rebels.
Today, Civil society in Rutshuru through their coordinator, Jean Damascene Baziyaka claimed that their assessment has captured 14 death of civilians. Baziyaka says that some of the dead were killed by bullets.
He however says that civil society is yet to make an assessment of the injured victims. He also says that the assessment has proved that 37,000 people are currently displaced by fighting with 37,789 crossed to Uganda in Kisoro district.
He reveals that the victims were killed between last month 27-30 fighting in several villages in Rutshuru territory. United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has quoted nearly 36,000 people that have been displaced as a result of M23 rebels, FARDC fighting.
Fighting also occurred on Friday as rebels try to advance in areas that are already recaptured by FARDC. army up to Tshengerero on the road to Bunagana.
Betrand Bisimwa, the M23 president, and Willy Ngoma, M23 spokesperson released a statement on Twitter accusing FARDC violated the unilateral ceasefire decreed by the M23 by launching a generalized offensive on 4 fronts.
Without explaining more Bisimwa and Ngoma said that only dialogue is worth it.
“Les Fardc ont violé le cessez-le-feu unilatéral décrété par le M23 en engageant une offensive généralisée sur 4 fronts ce matin. Nos forces viennent de mettre en échec cette tentative de perturber l’accalmie qui s’installait progressivement dans cette zone. Seul Le dialogue vaut”, dit Bisimwa sur twitter.
Translation “The FARDC violated the unilateral ceasefire decreed by the M23 by launching a generalized offensive on 4 fronts this morning. Our forces have just defeated this attempt to disrupt the calm that was gradually settling in this area. The only dialogue is worth it”, says Bisimwa on Twitter
