Rebels from the March 23 Movement (M23) have recaptured two villages in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo after heavy fighting with government forces and allied Wazalendo fighters.
The villages of Kasenyi and Luke, located in Masisi territory in North Kivu, reportedly fell to the rebels on Thursday. Local sources said M23 launched a counteroffensive a day after losing the villages, reinforcing their fighters from nearby Rutshuru territory.
Residents have started fleeing to safer areas as the violence continues. No official number of casualties has been released so far.
The renewed clashes come shortly after the Congolese army announced it had killed Willy Ngoma, the M23 group’s military spokesperson, in a drone strike near the mining town of Rubaya.
Since resurfacing in late 2021, M23 has captured several key towns in eastern DR Congo. Earlier in 2025, the group took control of major provincial capitals including Goma and Bukavu.
The government in Kinshasa and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of backing the rebel group, an allegation that Kigali strongly denies.
Although a ceasefire brokered by Angola was declared effective on February 18, fighting has intensified in recent days, forcing thousands of civilians to leave their homes, according to civil society groups.
Source: TRT AFRICA
