John Banyene, president of the local civil society, condemned in an official statement the occupation of several localities by the rebels during the humanitarian ceasefire and also amid the ceasefire agreement between the DRC and Rwanda.
Banyene pointed out that given the advance of the M23, the civil society recommends putting an end to the unilateral ceasefire observed by the armed forces and ordering the resumption of military operations on all front lines to retake the territory under the control of this armed group.
He noted that after the attack on the villages of Kahira in Bashali, in the territory of Masisi, and Nkwenda, Kisharo, Nyamilima-Ishasha, and Nyakakoma in the territory of Rutshuru, the cities of Butembo and Beni are exposed to an attack by the M23, which could use Lake Edouard in Nyakakakoma and Vitshumbi to attack those positions.
On August 7, the M23 occupied the fishing village of Nyakakoma in Rutshuru territory, thus taking possession of the southern and eastern shores of Lake Edouard and opening a sea route to the northern North Kivu province.
Since August 2, the rebels have launched an offensive that has allowed them to take control of Ishasha, bordering the DRC and Uganda, the second most significant border post between these two countries.
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