**Tension Persists in Masisi and Nyiragongo After FARDC-M23 Clash: RDC Update**
Tension remains palpable in the regions of Masisi and Nyiragongo following a fierce clash between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebels. The situation on the ground is precarious, with both sides vying for control over strategic territories.
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**FARDC Consolidates Positions in Masisi**
In Masisi, a relative calm prevails on nearly all combat lines after a day of intense fighting on Sunday. The FARDC, supported by local militia groups known as wazalendos, launched new offensives on multiple strategic axes and hills surrounding the town of Sake. According to Télesphore Mitondeke, a representative of the civil society in Masisi, the loyalist forces are working to solidify their recently regained positions to expand their territorial control.
Amidst the fragile peace in Sake, reports indicate that some wazalendo militiamen looted shops and homes, injuring a civilian who is currently receiving medical treatment at CBCA Ndosho Hospital. Despite the skirmishes on surrounding hills, the FARDC’s assault aims to reopen vital routes, with a notable presence reported in Ngumba, moving towards Kirotshe en route to Minova.
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**Simmering Tensions in Nyiragongo**
In Nyiragongo’s Kibumba region, a brief lull follows violent clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels. Disturbances were reported in Kibaya, Kibati, and Virunga National Park, with sounds of heavy and light weaponry echoing since Sunday morning.
The Rwandan military launched simultaneous attacks against Congolese forces to seize control of strategic hills within the park. However, the FARDC, along with local defense forces, swiftly responded to these provocations, thwarting the enemy’s advances. Notably, the Rwandan aggressors resorted to targeting displaced camps and civilian settlements with bomb drops to instill fear among the local populace.
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**FARDC’s Counteroffensive and Peacekeeping Efforts**
Dubbed “Caterpillar 2,” the Congolese army, in collaboration with local militia groups, initiated a counteroffensive against the M23 rebels. Despite the rebels’ attempts to capture Sake, the loyalist forces are resolute in reopening the Sake-Minova route to restore normalcy to the region. The army commanders in South Kivu and North Kivu have bolstered defenses to counter ceaseless attacks and ceasefire violations.
Colonel Guillaume Ndjike, the army’s spokesperson, affirmed the FARDC’s commitment to safeguarding the civilian population and restoring peace and tranquility in the conflict-ridden regions. The military remains steadfast in its mission to bring stability to the affected areas.
As the situation unfolds, residents in Masisi and Nyiragongo brace themselves for potential escalations in the conflict, hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing hostilities.
**Josué Mutanava, Reporting from Goma**