Fatshimétrie: Violent clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels shake the Kalembe region
Since the beginning of the week, the Kalembe region, located between the territories of Masisi and Walikale in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been the scene of violent fighting between the Congolese army and VDP/Wazalendo fighters and the M23 rebels. Residents are plunged into a climate of terror as the clashes show no signs of abating.
The clashes began early in the morning of Wednesday, October 23, when the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan army, launched a joint assault against positions held by the Congolese army and the VDP/Wazalendo. The simultaneous attacks took place in Katahandwa, on the border between the localities of Kalembe and Mwesso, as well as in Ihula, in the Walikale territory.
According to sources on the ground, the M23 rebels managed to regain control of the town of Kalembe after several hours of fighting. In addition, the rebels also attacked the positions of the VDP/Wazalendo in Kahira, in the Bashali Mokoto groupement, located in the Masisi territory.
The situation is critical and has led to a mass movement of populations fleeing the violence, both in Kahira and in Kalembe and Kalonge, in the Walikale territory. The fighting has spread terror and uncertainty among civilians, who are desperate to seek shelter from the conflict.
These clashes echo fighting that began earlier in the week between the M23 rebels and the VDP/Wazalendo. The intervention of the Congolese army, which deployed a military reinforcement by helicopter in the region, was not enough to stem the violence and protect innocent civilians in the conflict zones.
The situation remains tense and unstable, raising fears of an escalation of hostilities and a disastrous impact on the local population. It is imperative that the international community becomes more involved in promoting peace and stability in the region, and in putting an end to the violence that is devastating the lives of the inhabitants of Kalembe and its surroundings.