This Monday the forces of the March 23 Movement (M23), supported by Rwanda, approached the locality of Mutakato, in the Banabangi group, 25 kilometers from the city, several local sources told Actualité.CD.

The displaced people mainly take the RN3 towards Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, but the final target are villages such as Losso, Mungele, Tingitingi, Lubutu Mubi, Ndjingala, Lobu and Makana, on the border between North Kivu and Maniema, the report added.

In Walikale, socio-economic activities were practically paralyzed since last Tuesday and on Friday the mining company Alphamin Bisie Mining (ABM) suspended its work at the Bisié mine, the world’s third largest tin producer, due to increasing security risks.

On the eve, the rebels moved forward to occupy the locality of Mpofi, in the Utunda group, 52 kilometers from the center of Walikale, in spite of the call for a cease-fire made by the mediator in the conflict, Angolan president, João Lourenço.

The Angolan president had called on Saturday for a cessation of hostilities by all actors from 00:00 hours (DRC time) on March 16, including all possible hostile actions against the civilian population.

It also called not to pursue the conquest of new positions in the conflict zone, with a view to these and other initiatives leading to the creation of a climate of détente conducive to the start of peace talks scheduled for Tuesday 18 in Luanda.

Although the M23 has not stopped its activities, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), the platform to which the rebel group is attached, denounced that the Armed Forces of the DRC also carried out attacks against its positions on the eve of the direct talks.

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