The Congolese Army, in conjunction with local militias called Wazalendo launched a coordinated attack against an M23 position in Kakuku, a village located six kilometers from the center of Walikale on the Mubi axis, Radio Okapi reported.

According to local sources, the exchange of fire began on Sunday afternoon and isolated confrontations continued in some communities on Monday as the Wazalendo withdrew.

The fighting comes against a backdrop of persistent tensions despite the M23’s announcement of a ceasefire on March 22 and its announcement of withdrawal from Walikale.

The armed group warned that this commitment would prevail as long as there were no attacks against its positions and the territories under its control, but the DRC Army denounced that instead of withdrawing the M23 only reinforced its positions in the area.

Both parties compromise the calls for a cessation of hostilities to which Rwanda, the DRC and the M23 reportedly agreed, and which the Southern and East African communities are seeking to achieve with the resolutions adopted this month.

ef/arm/mem/km