Congolese Army Retreats as Fighting Escalates After Failed Peace Summit with Rwanda

Summary:

• The Congolese army lost control of Matembe in eastern DRC on Monday after clashes with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. This comes a day after a peace summit between the leaders of DRC and Rwanda was cancelled due to stalled negotiations, particularly over Rwanda’s demand for direct talks between the DRC and M23..

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The Congolese army lost ground on Monday in ongoing clashes with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local and military sources reported. This setback occurred just a day after a peace summit between the presidents of DRC and Rwanda was unexpectedly called off.

Since 2021, the M23 militia, supported by Kigali, has captured large areas of eastern DRC, displacing thousands and creating a dire humanitarian crisis. On Sunday, fierce fighting broke out near Matembe, a town in North Kivu province, which lies on the strategic route to the commercial hub of Butembo. The Congolese military confirmed its retreat from the area on Monday, following additional clashes between Matembe and the nearby town of Vutsorovya.

John Mahangaiko, a spokesman for a militia aligned with the Congolese government, stated that fighting resumed early on Monday. He described the situation as a forced retreat for the Congolese forces.

The peace summit between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, set to take place on Sunday with Angolan President João Lourenço mediating, was abruptly cancelled after negotiations broke down. The Congolese presidency stated that talks faltered over Rwanda’s demand for direct negotiations between the DRC and the M23 rebels.

The eastern DRC, rich in minerals but plagued by instability, has been a hotbed of violence for decades, with numerous armed groups vying for control of the region.