M23 Capture Ronga Village in Masisi After Fierce Clashes
Rebel fighters of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23) seized control of Ronga village, located in the Hembe area of Bashali Mokoto chiefdom, Masisi territory, on Sunday, September 14, after a full day of heavy clashes with Wazalendo militias and the Congolese army (FARDC).
Local sources told Kivu Morning Post that the rebels entered the village in the evening after pushing back Wazalendo fighters, who had resisted for several hours before retreating.
“The fighting in Ronga was intense throughout the day. By nightfall, it was calm, and we saw M23 fighters in the village for the first time. The Wazalendo withdrew after putting up resistance, but it didn’t change the outcome,” a resident said.
The capture of Ronga opens strategic routes leading toward Pinga, where M23 fighters are reportedly advancing. Witnesses confirmed that civilians fled the village during the fighting, fearing crossfire.
After securing the area, M23 combatants reportedly addressed villagers, urging them to leave hiding places in the surrounding bush and return home. Despite assurances, locals were said to remain cautious, with few venturing outside on Sunday night.
Ronga is the latest in a string of villages seized by M23 over the past week across Masisi territory. The group’s rapid territorial gains continue to unsettle local populations, many of whom have been repeatedly displaced by the conflict.
Reports indicate that large movements of M23 fighters are still visible around Pinga and along frontlines stretching across Masisi and neighboring Walikale territories, signaling that further confrontations may be imminent.
The fall of Ronga underscores the rebels’ sustained momentum in North Kivu, heightening fears of an expanded offensive deeper into government-held areas.
