M23 Captures Mbingi Area

The March 23 Movement has claimed an advance to Mbingi and surrounding areas in the south of Lubero territory, North Kivu province.  

Located about 17 kilometres from Alimbongo centre, M23 rebels arrived in Mbingi in Batangi Groupement on Wednesday at around midday, following intense fighting with Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers and militia coalition under their umbrella Wazalendo (Patriots). 

According to local sources in the area, by the time a convoy of M23 arrived, FARDC and the coalition had fled all their positions.  Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement claiming the advance of M23 fighters to Mbingi and surrounding areas. He argued the M23 was doing so by its commitment to protect civilian populations and remove any threat.   “The Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) informs the public that, following its commitment to protect civilian populations and remove any threat, Mbingi and its surroundings, as well as several entities have been liberated. Peace has now been restored there”, claims Kanyuka.   

The DRC army hasn’t released a statement about Kanyuka’s claims.  But, on Tuesday evening, the government spokesperson Patrick Katembwe Muyaya released a statement asserting that victory will be for FARDC. Colonel Alain Kiwewa Mitela, administrator of the Lubero territory says that the latest fighting has caused an influx of civilians around Lubero town as others continue to Butembo and Beni towns. 

He calls on locals not to attack Humanitarian aid workers emphasizing that they are not enemies.  He says that enemies are only M23 and supporters.   

"There is an influx of displaced people around Lubero-centre and Butembo-Beni. We are seeing how to manage them while waiting for the situation to be restored in the places of origin by our army. We must be very careful about the actions that we commit at the moment. Our enemy is the M23/RDF, not the humanitarians who help the population on all levels. Let the youth refrain from such acts. They must instead behave as future executives”, says Kiwewa. 

The Mbingi follows Alimbongo, Vutsumbiro and Matembe areas also in the South of Lubero territory also falling into the hands of the rebels after intense fighting.

The conflict between M23 rebels, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, and the Congolese government began in March 2022. The rebels now control significant parts of North Kivu province. In August, the M23 leadership allied with Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, former chairman of the DRC's electoral commission and leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), further escalating their insurgency.   

The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, a claim denied by both Rwanda and the M23. The rebels maintain that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Congolese leadership.