Kinshasa [Democratic Republic of the Congo], March 26: Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and pro-government fighters have clashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo despite pressure from regional mediators to halt the fighting.
The rebels battled pro-government fighters known as Wazalendo on Tuesday in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, a day after 24 members of two regional blocs - the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community - held virtual talks aimed at reviving faltering ceasefire initiatives.
The M23's swift advance since January has seen it take eastern Congo's two largest cities - Goma and Bukavu - resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing hundreds of thousands more from their homes.
On Monday, the conflict flared up again, with rebels reneging on a pledge to withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale in North Kivu province. Muhindo Tafuteni, a local civil society activist, told the news agency Reuters that clashes in North Kivu were taking place on Tuesday near the banks of Lake Edward, which straddles the border between Congo and Uganda.
In South Kivu, fighting reportedly took place in several towns north of the provincial capital, Bukavu, which M23 captured in February. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance of rebel groups that includes the M23, pledged to continue fighting "like people who got nothing to lose in order to secure the future of our country". (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune