**Fatshimetrie: The tense security situation in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo**
The North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo is once again the scene of violent clashes between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda. The fighting has intensified in recent days in the locality of Matembe, 60 km from the capital of the Lubero territory.
The hostilities began last Sunday in the early hours of the morning, when the M23 launched an attack on the positions of the Armed Forces of the DRC. The rebels, with heavy equipment such as battle tanks and artillery, attempted to take control of Matembe, a strategic locality for the defense of Lubero-centre.
The situation on the ground remains tense, with particularly violent clashes and uncertainty as to the outcome of these fights. The FARDC recently announced that it had shot down a surveillance drone used by the rebels in the area, highlighting the intensity and modernity of the ongoing conflict.
These new clashes come at a time when Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda are expected in Luanda, Angola. They will participate in a tripartite summit, organized under the aegis of Angolan President João Lourenço, the mediator appointed by the African Union. This meeting aims to find a peaceful solution to the conflict tearing apart eastern DRC.
The international community is closely monitoring the developments in North Kivu, fearing an escalation of the conflict and its disastrous humanitarian consequences for the civilian population. Calls for de-escalation and negotiation are increasing, in the hope of putting an end to years of violence and instability in this wounded region.