Situation report in Kitchanga as of now,prior to the whole day of fighting in Masisi

It is almost a week now, since clashes have been regularly reported between M23 rebels and self-defense groups on the Kilolirwe-Kitshanga axis in Masisi territory. The young patriotic resistance fighters from Masisi, who seem determined to drive these rebels from their territory, have managed to make the situation difficult for them since the beginning of this week, with the conquest of several of their former positions. In the early hours of this Thursday, the M23, through different channels of communication, indicated that the city of Kitshanga had come under the control of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, calling this a violation of the ceasefire agreed in the sheet road from Luanda signed with the aim of bringing peace to the east of the DRC. Shortly after, the Congolese army, through its spokesperson in North Kivu, warned the rebels who, according to an army press release, enjoy making statements tending to justify in advance their probable attacks on positions of the FARDC, an adventure which will cost them too dear, because “the army is more than ready and determined to prepare for any eventuality” we can read. All the information coming from Kitshanga proves that no self-defense group has approached this city well controlled by the Burundian troops of the regional force of the EAC, even less the FARDC which continues to camp on the decision of respect the famous ceasefire, a decision which cost them all the criticism from the civilian populations. This Thursday, all activities continued normally in Kitshanga: “Since the morning, we have not even heard the sound of a cartridge. It was at Kibarizo and Muhanga where the Wazalendo clashed with the M23 rebels. Here in Kitshanga, schools have been operating normally, shops are open, and everyone is going about their activities without problem,” Job BANDU, a resident of Kitshanga, told us. He nevertheless specifies that the only unusual movement observed today is the displacement of populations fleeing the atrocities: “The inhabitants of Buchalwichi, Kiyekire and Ngingwe all moved, some towards Mwesso and the others remained here in Kitshanga, but basically, there is nothing abnormal here.” The Congolese government continues to remind the M23 rebels to follow the process of pre-cantonment and cantonment before being demobilized, without which all restrictive means will be put in place in order to liberate all the areas of Rutshuru, Masisi and Nyiragongo that they occupy, he said.