Twirwaneho Commander Details Strategy Used to Recapture Mikenke
Colonel Rugabo Fidèle, a senior commander in the Twirwaneho armed group, has revealed details of the military operation that led to the recapture of Mikenke in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mikenke was seized on Monday, June 8, by Twirwaneho fighters alongside AFC/M23 forces after three months under the control of a coalition of government-aligned troops and allied armed groups.
According to Col. Rugabo, the offensive came after government forces launched attacks on Twirwaneho positions around Mikenke using both ground troops and combat drones. He said the coalition included the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), Burundian troops, Wazalendo militias, FDLR fighters, P5 rebels, the Hiboux special forces unit, and the Republican Guard.
“The enemy launched attacks against our positions around Mikenke. Although we did not control Mikenke Centre, our forces were maintaining defensive positions to prevent further advances toward civilian-populated areas,” Rugabo said.
He explained that following the attacks, Brigadier General Charles Sematama, who commands Twirwaneho forces in the Hauts Plateaux region, ordered a counteroffensive aimed at pushing back the coalition forces.
Rugabo said the operation involved a multi-directional assault designed to overwhelm the opposing forces. Fighters advanced from several fronts, including Rurunda, Dohoko, Kalingi, and Etavi, before launching coordinated attacks.
“Mikenke has fallen. Our forces attacked from multiple directions and effectively split the enemy into two groups,” he stated.
According to Rugabo, one group of fighters, largely composed of Mai-Mai combatants, retreated toward Gipupu, while another fled toward an area known as Antenne before being pushed further into Rwitsankuku, Mikarati, and surrounding forests.
The commander emphasized that Twirwaneho would continue military operations, arguing that government-aligned forces have repeatedly targeted civilians in the Minembwe area.
He warned that his forces would not remain passive in the face of what he described as ongoing attacks against local communities.
