The March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have claimed the capture of Masisi town in Masisi territory, North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo, (AP photo by Moses Sawasawa).
The capture of Masisi town happened on Saturday following intense fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers and the militia coalition under their umbrella Wazalendo (patriots).
After the capture of Masisi, M23 officials released a video of Gen Bernard Byamungu, one of their fighters, addressing locals and assuring them that the FARDC and coalition would not step back in the area.
Later in the night, Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23 rebels’ political spokesperson, released a statement informing the national and international community about the capture of Masisi town.
Kanyuka claimed that the M23 rebels’ capture resulted from repeated attacks by the government army and coalition.
“The Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) informs both national and international opinion of the following. Following its press release of December 27, 2024, which warned of the repeated attacks by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime against civilian populations in densely populated areas and its commitment to eliminate any threat, whatever its origin, our forces liberated Masisi Center and recovered several military equipment as well as ammunition The AFC is committed to securing all liberated towns and protecting all citizens and their property,” says Kanyuka in a statement.
Bertrand Bisimwa, president of the M23 rebels, also released a statement thanking locals for jubilating as they welcomed the M23 fighters.
“From Kaniro to Masisi-Centre via Katale, Lushebere, etc., we thank our jubilant populations who have just given a warm welcome to the forces of the ARC, the People’s Army. Now our fellow citizens have found security, tranquillity, freedom, and peace. Our mothers regain their freedom to go to the fields without being subjected to multiple taxes to access their fields, nor to immoral and degrading treatment, the barriers installed on the roads to ransom and extort our population are lifted, and freedom of movement, to undertake and to exercise one’s activities is guaranteed”, says Bisimwa in a statement.
Alexis Bahunga the provincial deputy of Masisi town says that the rebels also on Saturday evening captured the nearby locality of Mushebere. He says that the capture of Masisi town has caused an influx of locals to Masisi General hospital while others fled towards Nyabiondo and Bukombo.
He predicts that the fall of Masisi puts the M23 rebels in a comfortable position, as they now control two important territories in the province of North Kivu (Rutshuru and Masisi) rich in minerals and agricultural land. He adds that M23 rebels may use this chance to intensify their administration, recruitment, and ideology and gain financial means to wage more war.
By Saturday evening, heavy fighting was ongoing along Bweremana road. On Friday evening, M23 rebels captured Katale town in the same Masisi territory. A day before the FARDC and coalition were also dislodged from Lukofu and Kaniro in the Bashali Mukoto groupement same territory by the M23 rebels.