Fighting in Lubero and Masisi

Early in morning ,the FARDC launched the assault to liberate the strategic locality of Alimbongo in the Lubero territory,with deployments from Kitsambiro up to Lubero.Our intelligence is still active and live  in the operations area to enmass all the information about the assault on Alimbongo.

Fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 rebels extended in Mambasa and Matembe, localities in the Lubero territory, North Kivu. Explosions of heavy and light weapons have been heard since dawn on Thursday, January 9, 2025, according to local sources. The clashes broke out simultaneously on several lines, plunging the population into psychosis.

"The fighting continues between Mambasa and Mathembe. The shots are everywhere and we do not know exactly which part of these villages the shots are coming from. From Kitsumbiro to Kaseghe, detonations are heard, even in Luofu,"  

More than a week ago, the Congolese army, supported by local militias, managed to push back the M23 rebels from certain advanced positions, including Mambasa, the capital of the Bamate chiefdom. Local civil society is encouraging the military option to reconquer the areas under rebel occupation.

Civilians are saying "We have no fear, we have asked for them to confront each other. We want the FARDC to be able to attack on all front lines and liberate the entities occupied by the M23 rebels. This is war, there is no other option".

The resumption of fighting in Lubero comes at a time when the Congolese army and the M23 are also clashing a little further away in the Masisi territory. On Wednesday, the army dislodged the M23 from the city of Masisi-centre, which it had conquered on Saturday, December 4. This Thursday, clashes are still continuing in the capital of the Masisi territory.

Photo:Getting snap from a ramashackled window....

There was heavy fighting  since the morning of Thursday, January 9 in Masisi Centre.

The FARDC  with the wazalendo are still  holding on well against the M23/RDF rebels.

Information from the frontline area indicate that the fire was opened first by rebels who remained hidden in houses on Wednesday, who were waiting for reinforcements .

According to our  intelligence along the border,the night of Wednesday, reinforcements in men, weapons and ammunition from the rebels came from Kitshanga to Masisi in order to launch fresh attacks for M23 to retake masisi centre.

The appearance of war on the ground indicates that the risk of the rebels taking back Masisi Centre is real, despite the efforts made by the wazalendo fighters.

...,still running up an down,we apologize for the spellings and other mistakes because we are typing in panicky mood.........but we will get a full report in evening..

 

M23 got US $800,000 on taxes from export of miners from Rubaya

 The report by the United Nations Group of Experts published on Wednesday reveals that the AFC-M23 coalition has established a sophisticated system of control over the extraction, trade and export of coltan from Rubaya, in North Kivu province, thus generating significant financial resources for its activities.

According to experts, at least 150 tonnes of coltan were fraudulently exported to Rwanda from the Rubaya mines, where the AFC-M23 has established a parallel administration. These minerals were mixed with Rwandan production, leading to major contamination of the supply chains of the so-called “3T” minerals (tin, tantalum and tungsten) in the Great Lakes region. This mixture has been described as the largest contamination of its kind recorded in the last ten years.

The AFC-M23 coalition made significant profits from this illegal mining. Taxes on coltan production and trade in Rubaya brought in approximately $800,000 per month. A tax of $7 per kilogram was imposed on coltan and manganese, and $4 on tin (cassiterite). These funds allowed the AFC-M23 to finance its military operations and consolidate its territorial control.

The report said the coalition controlled the roads linking Rubaya to the Rwandan border, including through towns such as Mushaki, Kirolirwe, Kitshanga and Kibumba. Coltan convoys, comprising vehicles capable of carrying up to five tonnes per load, regularly passed through these routes on their way to Rwanda. Satellite imagery showed that the convoys were routed to a parking lot near the Kibumba market before being transferred to trucks from Rwanda.

In Rubaya, the AFC-M23 established a quasi-state administration, with a “ministry” in charge of mining. Permits were issued to miners and economic operators, for annual fees of $25 to $250. Miners’ salaries were doubled to encourage them to stay in the area, but coercive measures, such as armed patrols and arbitrary detentions, were applied to ensure that minerals were only sold to operators authorized by the coalition.

Experts point out that the fraudulent extraction and export of minerals has not only benefited the AFC-M23, but also the Rwandan economy, which has integrated these resources into its own production circuits.

This situation, which illustrates a systematic exploitation of natural resources for military and economic purposes, continues to fuel regional tensions and compromise stabilization efforts in the east of  DRC.

UN report links RDF authorities with the M23 command.

 

A report by the United Nations group of experts, published this Wednesday, reveals a chain of command between the Rwandan political-military authorities, General Sultani Makenga, military leader of the March 23 Movement (M23), and Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance (AFC).

According to the UN document, since April 2024, the M23, with the support of the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF), has intensified its territorial expansion in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite ceasefire agreements. "This strategy indicates a desire for long-term occupation and exploitation of conquered territories," the report states.

The overall military command of the M23 remains under the authority of Sultani Makenga, who, according to the report, continues to receive instructions and logistical support from the RDF and Rwandan intelligence services. The AFC, led by Corneille Nangaa, operates in close coordination with the M23, although the two entities remain distinct. “The AFC depends on Makenga’s authorization to conduct its operations,” the report says.

The report also details joint activities of the AFC-M23 coalition, including recruitment drives among local armed groups in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. “Both groups hold meetings in newly conquered territories to promote their coalition, recruit new members and set up parallel administrations,” the UN experts add.

In addition, historical figures such as René Abandi and Jean-Marie Runiga, the latter subject to international sanctions, have been recalled to strengthen coalition alliances. These actions aim to consolidate the support of local armed groups and to structure civilian and military administrations in occupied areas.

The report highlights that the AFC-M23 coalition is acting with the aim of "sustainably reshaping the Congolese political and military landscape", while benefiting from direct and indirect support from the Rwandan authorities. This situation continues to fuel regional tensions and compromise stabilization efforts in eastern DRC.

The presence of Rwandan short-range air defense systems (SHORAD) on Congolese territory was documented in the report of the United Nations Group of Experts published on Wednesday.

The presence of Rwandan short-range air defense systems (SHORAD) on Congolese territory was documented in the report of the United Nations Group of Experts published on Wednesday. These elements reinforce the accusations of direct military support from Rwanda to the M23 armed group.

On 25 October 2024, a SHORAD system was observed in Karuba, Masisi territory (North Kivu), approximately six kilometres from Sake. Imagery analysis reveals that this system corresponds to the Chinese-made Norinco Type 92 Yitian TL-6 model used by the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF). The report highlights that this type of equipment offers a significant tactical advantage, particularly by neutralising enemy air assets.

According to the report, MONUSCO lost contact with a reconnaissance drone on 29 October 2024, during a mission over Mpeti, Walikale territory. The drone’s GPS was affected by jamming before it crashed near Kikuvo, confirming the use of electronic warfare technologies in the area.

Since April 2024, other SHORAD systems have been spotted in several strategic locations, including Kamulima, Kahunga, Kitchanga and Rubaya. As of November 2024, at least three of these systems were operational in the areas of Kibumba, Kitchanga and Karuba.

The report states that although the equipment identified is of Chinese origin, this does not necessarily imply a violation of international sanctions. However, the experts have addressed a request for explanation to the Rwandan government regarding the use and deployment of this military equipment in the DRC.

This evidence reinforces accusations of Rwanda's logistical and military support for the M23, an armed group involved in intense clashes in eastern DRC, worsening an already critical humanitarian and security crisis.

FARDC claiming taking over Mashaki from M23

The locality of Mashaki has been taken by Congolese army this afternoon.

Occupied for over a year by the Rwandan army, the town of Mashaki has come under the control of the FARDC after a lightning counter-offensive

According to reports from FARDC ,the operation was conducted by FARDC'S special forces unit.

Tshisekedi to hold a high command meeting with main discussion on the M23

According to a leak that has reached. Us,Supreme Commander of FARDC ,the president organized a meeting of the High Council of Defense this Wednesday, the liberation of the occupied territories will be at the center of the Meeting.

FARDC and Wazalendo have retaken Masisi centre and Ngungu.How long will they hold on?

Reports from Frontline indicate that FARDC and Wazalendo forces have just recaptured Masisi center after intense fighting.

The claim is that M23 were using civilians to shelter themselves from the gun fire.They were hiding in houses of civilians 

The army has also reported the recapture of Ngungu. The M23 is reportedly in disarray with many dead bodies of young men littered everywhere. 

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), supported by the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) Wazalendo, managed to take over Masisi Centre, in the province of North Kivu, from the hands of the M23 rebels this Wednesday, January 8, 2025, after clashes that intensified on the hill of Kahongole, which overlooks Masisi Centre. However, violent clashes continue in the area.

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“The fighting started early this morning and, at present, the young Wazalendo of General Kagiri are visible in the city of Masisi,”.

He added that the situation remains volatile, although Congolese forces have managed to penetrate the center.

The fighting was triggered after an offensive launched by the FARDC on January 7, 2025. According to the FARDC spokesperson in North Kivu, this counteroffensive made it possible to recover several localities that were previously occupied by the M23 rebels and their allies.

The FARDC and the VDP Wazalendo continue to hold their positions and seek to definitively push back the rebels. The humanitarian situation in the region is worsening overnight.

In addition to these clashes, our sources report that other clashes are reported in Kaniro and several villages in Kinigi.

There has been Several days of fighting near Bitagata, a hill whose control was shared between the M23 and Wazalendo, this hill finally came under the total control of the Wazalendo and FARDC. The rebels abandoned 17 bodies of their fallen elements to retreat to the hill overlooking Rwangara.

According to witnesses on the spot, the clashes are particularly concentrated on Kahongole hill, located in the Mont Ngaliema district of Masisi. Loud detonations of heavy and light weapons are heard there.

Several sources indicate that the M23-RDF rebels have already been pushed back from the center of Masisi and that the fighting is towards Lushebere.

On the night of Monday to Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the house of the Binza group leader was looted by the M23 rebels, 68 BG28 sheets, cement and several other valuables taken away.

In December 2024, the RDF M23 had for the first time organized a search in the house of the Binza group leader, Mr. Jérôme Nyamuhanzi.

Reports also have it that his DT 125 motorcycle, which he used for travel, was taken away by these rebels.

Since the arrival of the M23 elements in the Zone, the leader has been taking refuge in Uganda and according to several sources, the  M23 have installed a new leader of the Binza group.

The Binza group is located north of the Rutshuru territory, along the border with Uganda and Lake Edward.

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