On Sunday, November 3, M23 rebels reportedly backed by Rwanda seized Kamandi Gîte, a strategic town on the banks of Lake Edward in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to local media.
The town connects to the key city of Beni, amplifying its strategic importance. The takeover has triggered forced displacements as civilians flee the conflict zone.
M23 fighters encountered resistance from local self-defense groups known as the Wezalendo, or “patriots,” who are allied with the DRC’s armed forces.
The intensifying clashes come as officials from Rwanda and DRC continue discussions under the Luanda peace process, with Angola mediating between the two nations.
The ongoing negotiations aim to create a roadmap for military disengagement and to neutralize the FDLR, a militia with ties to the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The next round of talks is scheduled for November 16.
