Authorities, led by the Minister of Human Rights, Chantal Chambu Mwavita, explained that the victims, who were in displacement camps, succumbed to diseases like cholera, while others died of hunger.
On Sunday evening, M23-AFC rebels, through their political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, released a statement accusing FARDC and its allies of using fighter jets to launch assaults on M23 positions in Lubero territory, with reconnaissance missions extending to Rutshuru territory.
The clashes reportedly began around 5:00 AM, with M23's political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, confirming the intense fighting by 9:30 AM. In his statement, Kanyuka claimed that the government forces and their coalition had initiated the assault, and the M23 fighters were defending themselves.
On Monday, three people, including a FARDC soldier and children, were killed instantly, while six others were taken to Minova Hospital for treatment. A reliable source at the hospital reported that four more people succumbed to their injuries on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to seven.
Eyewitnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that the bomb explosion killed three children and injured six others, including a pregnant woman. The injured were quickly transported to Minova for medical treatment.
"We call on the regional, national, and international community, as well as humanitarian organizations, to witness this umpteenth violation by the Kinshasa regime, which is taking advantage of our respect for the truce to attack us and bomb densely populated areas," stated Kanyuka.
Ngarambe, who claims refugee status in Canada as a Tutsi from North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will lead efforts to revitalize M23's Diaspora organs, as announced in a statement released on Monday.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Mensah Kedagni, MONUSCO Spokesperson in the area, the soldier was injured when a bomb hit the MONUSCO base. Kedagni also reported that the fighting caused massive displacement of civilians towards Kania, Miriki, and Kirumba in Lubero and Butembo.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, M23 rebels' president Bertrand Bisimwa and political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka released a joint statement, reporting that four houses were destroyed by bombs during the fighting.
On Monday evening, General Fall Sikabwe, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and Commander of Operations in the Kivu and South Kivu provinces paid tribute to the fallen soldiers before their bodies were repatriated to their respective countries for a dignified burial.
On Friday night, General Sylvain Ekenge, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), confirmed Nkuba's arrest by presenting him before the media. Ekenge stated that Nkuba, aged 52, was apprehended in Tanzania on January 3, 2024, by specialized services before being deported to Kinshasa.
