Clashes Erupt in Fizi Territory as Government Forces Repelled by AFC/M23

Reports from Fizi Territory in South Kivu province indicate that heavy fighting broke out early Monday morning after a coalition of Congolese government forces launched attacks against AFC/M23 positions, only to be pushed back by the rebel group.

According to local sources, elements of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), supported by Wazalendo fighters, carried out coordinated assaults on AFC/M23 bases located in the villages of Makobola, Ngalula and Kasekezi.

After several hours of intense clashes, government forces were reportedly repelled and forced to retreat as far as Pemba, in the Munene area, near the localities of Ilakala and Swima, about 20 kilometers from the town of Mboko.

The fighting triggered a wave of displacement, with civilians from Swima, Lusambo and Mukwezi fleeing their homes to seek safety elsewhere. Sources on the ground report that several people were injured during the clashes, though no official casualty figures were immediately available.

As hostilities continue, information from the area suggests that Congolese government troops are engaging in fighting retreats, attempting to reposition and move toward the town of Baraka amid sustained pressure from AFC/M23 forces.