**The fragile calm of Buleusa: between clashes and disarray**
In the region of Buleusa, located in the territory of Walikale, a precarious calm reigns after a day of panic caused by violent clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda. This situation, which occurred on Monday, December 16, sowed terror among the local population.
The Ikobo grouping, of which Buleusa is the capital, was the scene of fierce fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government forces supported by the VDP/Wazalendo. These clashes spread to the chiefdom of Bwito, causing material and human damage.
Local sources report that the VDP/Wazalendo launched attacks on the positions of the M23 rebels in several villages in the region. The fighting was intense, culminating the following Sunday when mortars were fired from the rebel position of Lusogha, north of Bwito, hitting the Malembe and Bushimba neighborhoods of Buleusa. The shots injured one civilian and caused material damage.
Faced with this escalation of violence, the population, already weakened by years of conflict, panicked. Many residents, including displaced people from other conflict-ridden areas such as Lubero, Rutshuru and Masisi, fled to the relative safety of the bush and nearby villages.
Despite this atmosphere of chaos, the Congolese army and the VDP/Wazalendo managed to maintain control of Buleusa. However, the situation remains precarious and uncertainty still hangs over the region, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by the local population, held hostage by armed groups with diverse interests.
This sad reality underlines the urgency of lasting peace and enhanced security in the Buleusa region, to enable residents to live in stability and rebuild a better future, far from the violence that has marked their daily lives.