**State of emergency in Kanyabayonga: the security situation seesaws**
Tension remains palpable in Kanyabayonga and its surroundings on Sunday June 9, while the security situation remains both calm and unpredictable. The inhabitants of this city as well as neighboring areas oscillate between hope and fear in the face of a context marked by sporadic clashes and movements of armed groups.
According to various corroborating sources, the Congolese army managed to maintain control over the region, despite a few reported incidents, including mortar fire heard around Kanyabayonga. The recent presence of M23 rebels in the villages of Bwito, although repulsed by local armed groups, testifies to the volatility of the situation which prevails in this border area between the territories of Lubero and Rutshuru.
Recent clashes between these different armed factions have caused population displacements and aroused concern within civil society. Local actors deploring the lack of assistance to the displaced and calling for urgent intervention to restore stability in the region.
While the Congolese army and its allies appear to control certain key areas, the return of rebels to other sectors raises questions about the sustainability of this fragile balance. The persistent presence of the M23 and the resulting instability cast the shadow of renewed violence and conflict in a region already scarred by years of unrest.
Faced with this complex and uncertain situation, it is becoming urgent for the Congolese authorities and the international community to redouble their efforts to prevent any escalation and protect civilian populations trapped in these recurring clashes. Concerted and rapid action is necessary to guarantee security and stability in Kanyabayonga and its surroundings, and allow residents to regain a semblance of normality in their daily lives weakened by violence and uncertainty.