In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting between M23 rebel forces and the Congolese army is raging in the Masisi region. This new escalation of violence comes just two weeks before the elections, as the mandate of the East African Community (EAC) force deployed in the region comes to an end.
The territory of Masisi, located in the province of North Kivu, is the scene of clashes between the M23 and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). The M23 rebels have clearly expressed their desire to retake the positions they lost less than a year ago to the East African troops of the EAC. Since November 2022, these soldiers from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Burundi had settled around the city of Goma and in North Kivu, thus creating a buffer zone between the insurgents and the Congolese army supported by the Wazalendo militias.
However, since last Sunday, around 300 EAC soldiers from Kenya have left Goma. They were positioned in the Tongo region, in Rutshuru, near Virunga Park. This first partial withdrawal did not have an immediate impact on the ground, because the most violent fighting was taking place further west, in Masisi. The town of Mushaki, a few kilometers from Saké, is the center of the clashes, thus making the road to Masisi and the territory of Walikale inaccessible. The fighting was particularly violent, causing heavy losses on both sides. The inhabitants of Saké were able to hear the detonations coming from the battlefield.
The M23 rebellion accused the presence of Burundian EAC soldiers in the clashes, an accusation formally denied by the Burundian army. However, according to certain security sources, Burundian soldiers deployed as part of the “Tafoc” Task Force, under a bilateral agreement between Kinshasa and Gitega, are indeed involved in the fighting. Since October, the date of the resumption of hostilities in North Kivu, around thirty Burundian soldiers have lost their lives, mainly in the Masisi region.
This new outbreak of violence, as the elections approach, is a stark reminder of the security challenges facing the DRC in the east of the country. The issue of the presence of foreign forces in the region, particularly that of the EAC, raises questions about their effectiveness in maintaining peace and security. The population continues to suffer the consequences of this conflict, with massive displacements of populations fleeing the fighting.
It is essential that the Congolese authorities take urgent measures to put an end to this spiral of violence and facilitate the return to stability in the Masisi region.. More than ever, the protection of civilians and the search for a lasting political solution must be at the heart of concerns. The international community must also redouble its efforts to support the DRC in its quest for peace and development.