M23 rebels seized two villages in the Masisi territory of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province. Ngululu and Ndete fell to the rebels after fierce battles Monday with local self-defense forces known as the Wazalendo.
“The rebel offensive targeted Wazalendo positions in both villages. The defenders fled amid intense fighting,” resident Kilengo Matheu told Anadolu. Residents fled in large numbers before the rebels arrived, creating two main waves of displaced people in dire conditions.
One group moved toward Waloa Yungu in Walikale territory, while the other sought refuge in the surrounding bush. This military escalation threatens the Doha agreement, signed just two weeks earlier to enforce a lasting ceasefire.
Fighting continues between M23 forces and Wazalendo militias supporting the Congolese army in North and South Kivu provinces. Security remains fragile as troop movements near recently captured areas raise fears of wider conflict resurgence.
Humanitarian groups warn access to displaced populations is nearly impossible in these active conflict zones. Water, food, and shelter shortages have reached critical levels, compounding the suffering of civilians caught in the fighting.
M23’s advance reshapes territorial control in North Kivu, putting fragile diplomatic efforts at grave risk. The volatile situation casts a shadow over peace hopes, with fresh clashes threatening to unravel fragile agreements.
