The security situation remains calm in the village of Alimbongo and its surroundings after violent clashes between WAZALENDO and FARDC against the M23 rebels supported by the Rwandan army.
"The M23 rebels, as usual, continue to intensify their attacks on the side of the region. They seem to want to rely on the west coast of Lake Edward to try to take Butembo and Beni. According to their statements, they have warned the population that they will control these two cities by January 1. However, when alerts are issued, the government tends to take them lightly. Today, the attacks have already begun."Since last week, the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda have opened several fronts against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Wazalendo resistance in the territories of Lubero and Walikale, entities located in the province of North Kivu.
Through these offensives, these attackers have seized several strategic towns that were still controlled by the FARDC. In addition to Alimbongo, Matembe, the village of Mambasa located in the chiefdom of Bamate, Lubero and Buleusa have also come under rebel control. Villages under rebel occupation have mostly been emptied by their populations.
"Several of these villages are emptied by their populations. The rebels behave like free electrons. The FARDC elements must be reinforced in their numbers," a source told BETO under cover of anonymity.
Butembo, entire Lubero, will they survive?
However, faced with this rebel advance, some are wondering about the role of the Minister of National Defense, less felt by the population in this crisis. Fabrice Saambili, one of the observers who wants to know what the Minister of Defense is really doing, wonders how strategic localities such as Matembe and Alimbongo are falling one by one without an adequate military response?
"At this rate, Butembo and Lubero could be the next targets, putting millions of lives at risk. Meanwhile, our Minister of Defense remains comfortably seated in his air-conditioned office in Kinshasa, far from the realities on the ground," he denounced.
For him, "the incompetence of the Minister of Defense" is not only flagrant, but it constitutes a betrayal of the populations abandoned to their fate. "This minister seems to be unaware that his primary mission is to protect the territorial integrity and citizens of this country. Instead of mobilizing our troops and providing the necessary means for their deployment, he prefers to hide behind a diplomacy that, so far, has not produced anything concrete.
Additional intelligence findings reveal demoralized civilian society who have lost hope in FARDC and all of them believe that Butembo and Benitez will fall to the M23.The preparations and reinforcements plus the determination of the rebels leaves doubt as to whether these two cities will survive.They did miss GOMA by the end of December last year but the taking of these two cities in the great north of north kivu will leave FARDC in panick and GOMA security shaken.
of residents has been observed since Tuesday, December 17, 2024 in the city of Buleusa, capital of the Walikale territory, in the province of North Kivu.
This, the day after the capture of this strategic city by the M23/RDF rebels following the clashes against the FARDC-WAZALENDO coalitions since last Sunday.
According to HUMINT collections from civilians in the area this wednesday, many families have emptied the area heading towards supposedly calm villages.
"After the attacks in the Lubero territory, the M23/RDF opened fire on other axes, particularly diagonally between the Masisi territory and that of Walikale. Unfortunately, the enemy took control of the aforementioned city, after intense fighting between the FARDC-WAZALENDO and M23/RDF coalitions. The presence of the rebels is at the root of the psychosis and massive displacement of the inhabitants,"
According to Intelligence information confirmed by certain security sources including base leaders who preferred to remain anonymous.
They said the security situation remains tense in the villages surrounding Buleusa.
Meanwhile, in Lubero, clashes continued this Wednesday around the town of Alimbongo which was occupied by M23 rebels this week.
According to independent sources,FARDC responded to the enemy's attacks which are said to be planning to advance towards other villages located near the town of Kipese.
As a result, activities remain paralyzed in almost all sectors, the most affected being transport and education.
M23 advancing on sporadically!
Intelligence from the Frontline indicate spectacular advance by M23 since last Sunday.
"This is a new worrying development that is underway in the south of Lubero territory. We do not understand why the FARDC strategically withdrew from the localities of Mambasa, 90km from the commercial city of Butembo and Ndoluma, in Lubero territory without engaging in combat against the M23 rebels.
This is a withdrawal with a negative and immediate impact on the local population. As i write, the villages of Mambasa, Ndoluma, Kitsombiro, Bikara and Katondi are now empty. The inhabitants fled after the withdrawal of the FARDC," the source said.
In the territory of Walikale, clashes between the M23 and the FARDC supported by the Wazalendo continued this Wednesday, December 18.
Local sources said that the locality of Buleusa came under rebel control on Tuesday, December 17.
A military source in the area said that the Congolese army is organizing to respond to these attacks by the M23 rebellion supported by the Rwandan army.
Mbingi captured?
This Wednesday afternoon, the M23 rebels have occupied the town of Mbingi, the capital of the Batangi chiefdom, 50 kilometers from Lubero-Centre.
The FARDC retreated after a brief exchange of fire, abandoning the town in the hands of the attackers.
The Congolese military found themselves almost surrounded; the rebels had already taken control of the strategic roads of Kaseghe and Alimbongo, the main access routes to Mbingi.
Ambushes laid on FARDC men by unknown assailants!
An ambush leaves 3 dead including 2 men in military uniform FARDC and a civilian on the road leading to Lubero center.
According to the administrator of the Lubero territory, the unidentified attackers took the victims' weapons.
"Two soldiers were killed and the first thing to note is that their weapons were taken away. We will put in place strategies to discover the perpetrators of this act. These are not isolated cases, and these incidents are increasing on national road number 2, which is today considered a rear infrastructure according to military jargon. It is imperative to secure this road during this period of operations," said Colonel Kiwewa Mitela Alain, administrator of the Lubero territory.
.....wait for tomorrow's report...Good night....
The Congolese army has not yet officially reacted to this information.
The M23 rebels recaptured the Matembe area yesterday evening, Sunday, forcing the DRC armed forces to retreat towards Vutsorovia.
This comes after Rwanda's refusal to take part in the Luanda talks.
Despite massive losses to FARDC last week,Sources on the Frontline are talking about a reinforcement of the rebels' fortifications, perhaps in view of large-scale attacks.
I am assuring this,basing on the level of reinforcements,it is going to be a bloody attack.
No official communication from the FARDC for the moment about this.
The M23 have suffered heavy human and material losses on these positions
According to this source, the cancellation of this meeting is caused by the refusal of the Rwandan delegation to take part in this meeting supposed to put an end to hostilities in the East of the DRC by the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese zones.
"Started more than 5 hours late, while the Congolese party was already in the room, the ministerial meeting between the DRC and Rwanda, which was to validate the agreement to be submitted for signature by the heads of state, ended in a damp squib." The Rwandan delegation inserted a clause not provided for in the initial agreement. This new paragraph makes the signing of this agreement conditional on direct negotiations between the DRC and the M23. Something the DRC has always refused," we read in a dispatch from the Congolese Presidency.
The Congolese and Rwandan presidents were due to meet under the auspices of Angolan President João Lourenço, the African Union (AU) designated mediator in the conflict between Kigali and Kinshasa, for new talks aimed at restoring peace in eastern DRC. Early this Sunday morning, only Félix Tshisekedi had arrived at the Angolan Presidency. However, two days before the summit, both parties had stated that they were working on an agreement that could be finalized this same Sunday and that there was a desire to move towards signing a new agreement.
an official statement, Kinshasa accused Kigali of setting "last-minute conditions" by demanding direct dialogue between the DRC and the M23 rebel group. The DRC, which describes the group as "terrorist", firmly rejected the demand, seeing it as an attempt to "destabilise and torpedo" the peace process.
"An unacceptable condition"
According to the statement, this Rwandan demand is considered incompatible with the objectives set by previous mediations and seriously compromises the efforts undertaken under the auspices of Angola and supported by the African Union. Kinshasa insists that no legitimacy can be granted to the M23, accused of multiple human rights violations and illegal occupation of vast territories in North Kivu.
The summit was also due to address the withdrawal of the Rwandan Armed Forces (RDF) and the disarmament of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), but the cancellation of the meeting jeopardises these advances.
Call for international responsibility
Kinshasa has welcomed the efforts of Angolan President João Lourenço, while calling on the international community to "take responsibility" in the face of what it considers to be "a deliberate blocking strategy" by Kigali. The statement, signed by Erik Nyindu Kibambe, director of the presidential communications unit, states that "the world must see that Rwanda is a major obstacle to peace in the Great Lakes region."
Another failure for regional diplomacy
The cancellation marks a further setback for mediation efforts in the region. The differences between Kigali and Kinshasa over the management of the M23 illustrate the continuing challenges to achieving a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The Congolese government, however, remains committed to the peace process under the leadership of João Lourenço, while rejecting any attempt to recognise the armed groups as legitimate interlocutors.
Kinshasa and Kigali continue to accuse each other of supporting armed militias operating in the region, exacerbating an already complex situation and threatening the stability of the entire Great Lakes region.
New clashes broke out in North Kivu on the Lukuka axis between Matembe and Kaseghe (Lubero) This Sunday morning. Residents say that heavy and light weapons are being heard and causing great terror in the region. The M23 launched at 5:30 a.m. local time and are continuing. Fighting between the FARDC and the M23 rebels continued this afternoon in the south of the Lubero territory, after the failure of negotiations in Luanda this Sunday. According to our local sources, the clashes broke out in the Matembe area, a strategic lock for the defense of Lubero-center. The rebels, heavily armed, are using battle tanks and heavy artillery to try to dislodge the Congolese army. Weapons continue to resonate in the region, raising concerns about the escalation of violence.
Another clarification on the security situation this Sunday morning, October 15, bombs are dropped in the city by the M23, the Malembe district in Buleusa a bomb exploded, ep Zebedee and others in Bushimba, this situation causing panic among the population, Note that the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo are maintaining the city of Buleusa and its surroundings.
A drone of the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, was shot down, this Saturday, December 14, 2024, by elements of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) at Matembe, an entity located in the southern part of the territory of Lubero, in the province of North Kivu. The spokesperson for Front-Nord operations, Lieutenant Mbuyi Kalonji Reagan, who reported the news, said that the DRC Armed Forces shot down a Kamikaze drone belonging to the RDF/M23 terrorist coalition at the height of Kivako hill not far from Matembe. This action by the loyalist army is a response to multiple provocations by the M23 rebels,” wrote Lieutenant Mbuyi Kalonji Reagan. The spokesperson for Front-Nord operations protested against this umpteenth provocation by the M23/RDF rebels and indicated that the regular army remains determined to respond to any attack.
The inhabitants of the villages of Vutsorovya and Alimbongo are taking refuge in the locality of Kitsumbiro, fleeing the violent fighting between the M23 and the FARDC government army in the village of Matembe. Since the fall in July 2024 of Kirumba, the largest town in the Lubero territory, it is in Alimbongo, 100 km from the commercial city of Butembo, that the army has already erected its fortress, until now impassable by the rebels. Residents report that the situation is critical this Sunday on the battlefield. On Saturday 14, reinforcements in men and logistics were reported on the rebel side.
They tried everything to take Butembo before the 15th and be in a position of strength. As a result, they lost more elements than expected. Kagame's son got married a few days ago and he was found among those killed by a drone today. Rest in hell, terrorist. Today, will he sign or not?? Despite the fact that we knew he was not going to respect it because he is looking for a way to get his M23 involved in the negotiations. If he does not sign or does not respect today's commitments, the DRC will officially engage the military option against the RDF/M23. If he does not sign, we will see the reaction of the international community that sings to us morning and evening the Luanda mechanism, everyone against the wall. Kigali is exhausted by this war! Fatshi is not Kanambe.
Started more than 5 hours late, while the Congolese party was already in the room, the ministerial meeting between the DRC and Rwanda, to validate the agreement to be submitted for signature by the Heads of State, ended in a fizzle. The Rwandan delegation inserted an incision not provided for in the initial agreement, according to our sources. This new paragraph conditions the signing of this agreement by "direct negotiations" between the DRC and the M23. Something that the DRC has always refused.
Mediator appointed by the African Union for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the armed conflict between the DRC and Rwanda, Joâo Lourenço wants to obtain from the two leaders of the DRC and Rwanda the signing of an agreement to end hostilities or better a firm commitment to a disengagement of the Rwandan armed forces (RDF) from Congolese territory, a proven presence documented by United Nations experts, underlines the communication unit of the presidency of the DRC via a dispatch.
"If this agreement were to be signed between the two Heads of State, it would mark a turning point in this conflict, the commitment of the Rwandan army at the front of which is attested by the United Nations with at least 4,000 soldiers," indicates our source.
This meeting between Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, under the aegis of the Angolan mediator, is also the result of several working sessions between the foreign ministers of the three countries.
Now let me get down to the information?
For quite a good time,many media outlets in DRC have been alleging speculating and with a lot rumours,wrote about the M23 making recruitment from refugee camps in Uganda.Despite all this ,the Congolese gorvenment looked at these writings as mere allegations for it did not want to spoil the good relationships between the two states and particularly the good relationship between Mighty Museveni and H.E Tshisekedi.Butt,surprisingly,from heated up fronts in Lubero where M23 lost many men and other war materials.Among other things recovered were IDs of refugees from Uganda.I really now do not know if this is going to act as a proof that M23 makes recruitment from Ugandan refuge camps.
The truth is that they are a lot o to Congolese in media,the academia who blame Tshisekedi on still holding relationships with Uganda basing on such allegations and many wish the operation Shujaa terminated which would be the worst mistake if either of thee two nations fell for these speculations.And I would wish all the two gorvenments to be clear and not fall for the speculations before they get down to prove this.And ii really Iam convinced that the two security forces will deal with that to avoid any confusion between these two brotherly states.UPDF and FARDC must consider the very important role of fighting the ADF terrorists who are more terrible as far as security in the region is concerned.
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However,this did not stop the rebels from making more reinforcements that are meannt to counter the heated up offensives by FARDC in Ruttshuru and Lubero.
The FARDC and wazalendo have sworn to save the Congolese soil.The heated up fronts in Lubero has seen the death of mamy youth in the ranks of AFC/M23.
According to my military intelligence collections,OSINT and HUMINT sources,there is confirmation that the former commander of Republican gua...
