FARDC, Wazalendo and FDLR Retreat as M23 Seizes Kibati Again

The rebel coalition AFC/M23 has recaptured the strategic area of Kibati in Walikale Territory following three days of intense fighting with a coalition of forces aligned with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The renewed takeover occurred on Tuesday, March 3, after sustained clashes between M23 fighters and an alliance composed of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), local militia groups known as Wazalendo, and elements of the FDLR.

According to local sources, the pro-government coalition retreated toward the villages of Miba and Mungazi after being overpowered during the confrontations.

Kibati had previously fallen out of M23 control on February 28, following heavy fighting that saw government forces regain the area. The latest developments underscore the fluid and volatile security situation in Walikale Territory, where territorial control continues to shift amid ongoing hostilities.