The Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) have announced that it had reclaimed control of the centre point of Masisi territory in North Kivu but remain vulnerable to potential attacks by the M23 rebels who are still present in the area.
The M23 rebels are reported to have willingly vacated the territory’s central point following the intervention of the international community to allow FARDC reclaim the territory.
In a statement issued on Thursday, army spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge revealed that the M23 are still in control of strategic points of Masisi despite their army reclaiming the central point of territory.
“The FARDC are making remarkable progress on the front lines. Ngungu is under total control, as are all the surrounding positions. On the Masisi side, loyalist forces recaptured the city of Masisi yesterday (Wednesday, January 8), while the M23 terrorists and their Rwandan sponsors held the strategic point of Kalonge, which allowed them to reoccupy Masisi-Centre this afternoon (Thursday, January 9),” Major General Ekenge said.
Major General Ekenge further revealed that the situation in Masisi territory remains volatile as fighting between the army and the M23 rebels continues.
“The fighting continues, but our determination remains unwavering,” he said on national television.
The M23 rebels continue to occupy at least 50% of the province of North Kivu where war has persisted.
