Fierce fighting has erupted once again between government forces and M23 rebels on Tuesday near the strategic town of Sake in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to sources. The clashes have escalated in recent days, particularly around Sake, located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
Residents of Sake reported to AFP by telephone that the battle was unfolding on the hills overlooking the area. Despite heavy clashes on Monday, a security source asserted, “We control the town of Sake,” while also confirming that fighting was ongoing at the time of the report.
The town’s mayor, Maombi Mubiri, stated that the population had fled, with the rebels occupying the southern part of Sake and pro-government militia (wazalendo) holding the northern part. A medical source mentioned sporadic gunfire and reported treating three wounded individuals who were subsequently transferred to Goma. The source, requesting anonymity, emphasized that the rebels had not yet taken control of the town.
The M23 group, primarily composed of Tutsi fighters, has seized significant portions of North Kivu since re-emerging in late 2021. The region has been plagued by violence for decades following the regional wars in the 1990s.
In response to the renewed conflict, Congolese Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, during his second visit to Goma in less than a week, assured that “everything is being done to protect the people of Sake, Goma, and the surrounds.” Kinshasa expressed its intent to reclaim all territories lost to the rebels.
The UN Security Council, expressing concern over the escalating violence in eastern DRC, condemned the rebel offensive launched near Goma on February 7. A confidential UN document revealed allegations of the Rwandan army using sophisticated weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, to support M23. Tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali are escalating, with accusations of Rwanda supporting the rebels to control mineral resources, a claim vehemently denied by Kigali.
M23 asserts that it is defending a threatened minority and seeks negotiations with the government, which categorizes them as “terrorists” and refuses to engage in talks. Despite diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting, a lasting solution remains elusive. On Tuesday, Burundi announced that President Evariste Ndayishimiye would visit the DRC as part of consultations for a regional peace agreement.
