The Congolese army, backed by allied Wazalendo militias, has launched a counter-offensive to retake the strategic town of Nzibira in South Kivu, a week after it was seized by M23 rebels and their allies, local sources and security officials said on Wednesday morning.
Heavy fighting erupted on Tuesday around the mining hub in Walungu territory, with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) deploying drone strikes against rebel positions in the Mulunga, Chirwa, Nyamarhege, Mulamba and Kaniola mountains.
Residents described a tense atmosphere as artillery exchanges echoed across the hills.
“The rebels are resisting strongly with heavy weapons, and the population is in fear and uncertainty,” one local leader told this publication.
Nzibira, located on a key axis linking Bukavu to the mineral-rich Mwenga and Kamituga zones, is highly prized for its deposits of gold, cassiterite and coltan.
The control of such towns enables armed groups to tap into lucrative mining revenues, fueling their campaigns despite regional and international peace efforts.
The M23, rebranded in some areas as the Armed Forces of Change (AFC-M23), has sought to extend its grip towards Mwenga-Centre and Kamituga, both known for gold production.
But Congolese troops and Wazalendo militias have established defensive lines at Culwe, Lubimbe and Ngando, about 20 km from rebel-occupied areas, slowing their advance.
The renewed hostilities come amid stalled regional mediation and growing concern about the humanitarian toll.
More than 7 million people are displaced across eastern Congo, according to U.N. agencies, many fleeing recurrent clashes between the FARDC, M23 and a patchwork of local militias.
South Kivu’s fighting mirrors the broader instability in North Kivu, where M23 offensives since late 2021 have redrawn frontlines and strained Kinshasa’s relations with Rwanda, which Congo accuses of backing the rebels – a charge Kigali denies.
source : ChimpReports