The enclave of Kamandi-Gite, located on the west coast of Lake Edward in the chiefdom of the Batangi, Lubero territory, has been under occupation by M23 rebels since Sunday, November 3.
The rebels launched their offensive in the early hours of the morning from Kirumba, a town located about twenty kilometers from Kamandi-Gite.
It was around 3 a.m. that the M23 rebels, invaded the locality of Kamadi-Gite. Heavily armed, they simultaneously attacked all the positions of the Wazalendo fighters who once controlled this area.
According to confidant sources in the territory of Lubero, the capture of the strategic city of Kamadi-Gite offers several opportunities to the rebels to have access to the entire southern part of the territory of Lubero and especially to the entire southwest coast of Lake Edward, which joins the territory of Rutshuru.
According to several sources in the two neighbouring territories, these clashes have once again thrown thousands of people, already weakened by the horrors of war, on the path of exile to take shelter from the hostilities.
The Wazalendo retreated to the neighbouring hills. The local population thought that a counter-attack by these local fighters was probably being prepared.
This attack comes two days after the one carried out by the Wazalendo around the city of Kirumba.
The Wazalendo and the M23 rebels regularly clash in this area, where the security situation remains fragile.
The M23's occupation of Kamandi Gîte and Vitshumbi in Lubero territory allows the rebels to exert influence over the control of traffic on Lake Edward and offers them the possibility of collecting illegal taxes on tens of thousands of fishermen.
In fact, the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, have been occupying since Sunday, November 3, the locality of Kamandi Gîte, located on the shores of Lake Edward, 10 km from Kanyabayonga, in the territory of Lubero. This locality is of strategic and economic importance.
Kamandi Gîte is a lake access point that connects several villages located on the shores of Lake Edward, including the locality of Kyavinyonge, in the territory of Beni. From Kamandi Gîte, it is possible to reach the locality of Kasindi-Port, thus offering a passage to the strategic border of Kasindi-Lubiriha.
This point also provides access to Kyondo and the centre of Lubero, passing through Bukununu, Mubana, Kipese and Masereka, to reach the Graben region in Beni territory.
The M23 rebels have opened a new front in Walikale territory and continue to advance in Lubero territory, despite progress in the Luanda peace process.
Experts from the DRC and Rwanda have agreed on a plan to disengage forces and neutralize the FDLR, an agreement that still requires the validation of the foreign ministers of the two countries at the next meeting scheduled for November 16 in Luanda.
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