M23 captures Nyakakoma on shores of lake Edward

 

 

 Yesterday,an OSINT and HUMINT report about 12 vehicles including jeeps and Kamaz filled with elements of M23_RDF including officers  just finished a meeting at the Equator hotel in Ishasha to design a  detailed studying how the m23 establish themselves in the captured area and annexing of more territory.

It after thorough resolutions that the lions of Sarambe planned for the assault on. Nyakakoma.M23 rebels continue to gain ground in the

Rutshuru territory, despite the entry into force, since Sunday, August 4, of the ceasefire measure decreed by Luanda, which is mediating in the crisis shaking the East of the DRC. This Wednesday, the rebels took control of Nyakakoma, a fishing enclave located on the east coast of Lake Edward, respectively 48 km and 28 km from Nyamilima de Ishasha, two other strategic entities of the Bwisha chiefdom, already under the control of the M23. 

"The M23 elements arrived in Nyakakoma around 9:15 a.m. They entered without a single shot. It was the elements of the naval force and the Wazalendo who were firing bullets, perhaps to scare each other off. A bomb fell on a home without causing any casualties. However, a young man was hit by a stray bullet in the Kabila neighborhood and he was taken to hospital," a resident of Nyakakoma said.

The crackle of bullets this Wednesday when the M23 rebels arrived in Nyakakoma caused the displacement of several inhabitants of this lakeside town who headed towards the other side of the lake.

“Several residents are moving and crossing the lake using canoes. They are heading towards Talyha, Kamandi, Mubana, Kiserera, Lunyasenge. Some residents prefer to stay in the city. The Wazalendo have headed towards the park while the elements of the naval force have crossed the lake. We who remain in the city are afraid, we do not know where the solution will come from. We prefer to stay there only,” adds our source.

The Wazalendo militiamen who cohabited with the soldiers of the naval force in Nyakakoma have for the most part headed towards Chondo, Kamuororo, Mulimatsanga, villages in the heart of Virunga Park.

The president of the Lake Edward fishermen's federation, Josué Mukura, for his part, expressed fear about fishing activities which are disrupted following the armed clashes. 

"The situation in Nyakakoma was critical this morning. The M23 rebels who came to attack the Wazalendo who were still in Nyakakoma. And there, it is reported that a young boy of about ten years old was injured by a bullet. For the time being, the Wazalendo, some police officers and the elements of the naval force who were still there have headed for the park. It is worrying because the long-awaited ceasefire is not being respected. We are really in total difficulty" told us, a citizen activist from the Binza group who also requested anonymity. 

 For the time being, the Wazalendo, some police officers and the elements of the naval force who were still there have headed for the park. It is worrying because the long-awaited ceasefire is not being respected. We are really in the shit. That is why we keep asking the government to get involved in this issue because we are really in total difficulty" said the citizen activist from the Binza group who also requested anonymity. 

Human rights defenders and other local civil society actors are calling on the Congolese government to tackle these advances by the M23 rebels in the Rutshuru territory. 

The foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda met last week in Luanda around the mediator who is the Angolan president, João Lourenço for peace discussions. A ceasefire was declared on the ground between the Congolese army and the M23. The ceasefire came into effect this Sunday, August 4, 2024 at midnight and will be supervised by the Ad-Hoc Verification Mechanism reinforced by intelligence experts from the three countries and other entities, is the result of the relaunch of the Luanda process, which Kinshasa considers as a privileged mechanism for a return to lasting peace. 

In an interview given Tuesday to Top Congo Fm from Brussels where he is observing a moment of convalescence, after having undergone treatment for a slipped disc, Congolese President, Félix Tshisekedi affirmed that it was rather Rwanda that requested the observance of a ceasefire on the combat lines. He reiterated that no negotiation is envisaged with the M23 rebels.