M23 captures key town in North Kivu

North Kivu, DRC| THE INDEPENDENT |  The March 23 Movement (M23) has claimed the capture of Mushaki town in Masisi territory, North Kivu province following intense fighting with Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers and militia coalition under their umbrella Wazalendo (patriots).

The fighting started on Thursday at around 2:00 am in Mushaki and adjacent hills of Ruvunda, Kabati, and surrounding areas. M23 through their political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement claiming the capture of Mushaki town.  He also decried the humanitarian crisis in Masisi territory.

“Failure to assist a person in danger is reprehensible. The M23 could not stand idle while the coalition forces of the Government of Kinshasa including the FARDC, FDLR, mercenaries, militia and the Burundi forces massacred the civilian population in Mushaki and its surroundings, it was therefore forced to go and silence these weapons. The M23 confirms that it occupies Mushaki and its surroundings.

However, he reminded the humanitarian community that there is an emergency in Masisi. M23 also shared some pictures of their fighters patrolling Mushaki.

After capturing Mushaki, M23 rebels also fought heading towards  Matanda Bihambwe and Karuba where FARDC soldiers and militia coalition had fled to.

The capture of Mushaki gives M23 rebels an upper hand to control Muremure Hill as well as controlling  Sake-Minova road in the village of Kirotche,  meaning it will isolate the city of Goma from the rest of the country except Lake Kivu to the south of the city.

This comes just hours left before the expiry of the East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF) troops’ mandate in North Kivu province.

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

The DRC government accuses EACRF troops of failure to launch an assault on M23 rebels.

But Ugandan troops are yet to announce their withdrawal. According to Captain Hassan Ahmed Kato, the Ugandan contingent spokesperson, they have not yet received an official command from their superiors.

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.

The rebels claim to fight against bad leadership in DR Congo based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination.

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