The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken over the town of Luvungi in the Rusizi Plain of Uvira territory in South Kivu after M23 fighters vacated the area. Following the fierce battle for control among the warring parties, the Rwandan troops and their M23 allies retreated, succumbing to military and diplomatic pressure.
The Congolese army officially retook control of the town on Monday, May 12, restoring the blurry hope of civilians trapped under the violent rule of the rebels.
“We do not know yet whether this withdrawal by the Rwandan army and their M23 surrogates is in respect of various UN resolutions and international demands for the Rwandan army to withdraw from zones they occupy in the DR Congo, or it is just a tactical military withdrawal,” a senior official of the armed forces declared in Kinshasa, the country’s capital city.
Some members of the M23 group and Rwandan fighters are reportedly still present in Katogota, a neighbouring town to Luvungi. The Congolese army has stated that rebel reinforcements have arrived in Kamanyola, which is a strategic border town in South Kivu.
Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji, the spokesperson for Operations Sukola 2, a military campaign aimed at neutralising rebel groups in South Kivu, has revealed that Rwandan forces have deployed heavy weapons on the Bugarama hills. This positioning is intended to maintain their military and strategic control over Kamanyola and its surrounding areas.
The entry of Congolese troops into Luvungi signifies the culmination of troop movements observed in the Rusizi Plain and the upper plateau of South Kivu. Since Saturday, May 9, the Congolese army has been systematically occupying positions left vacant by the M23 fighters, moving from Sange to Mutarule and finally to Luvungi.
The army attributes the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and their M23 allies to “intense military and diplomatic pressure,” while the M23/AFC describes their withdrawal as a “repositioning and a gesture of goodwill” towards the peace process.
The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have regained control of the town of Luvungi in South Kivu from M23 fighters after a prolonged battle, resulting in the retreat of Rwandan troops and their allies.
This takeover on May 12 brings hope to civilians who were previously under the rebels’ rule. However, there is uncertainty over whether the retreat aligns with UN resolutions for troop withdrawal or if it is a tactical move.
Despite this victory, M23 and Rwandan fighters remain in nearby Katogota, with reinforcements reportedly reaching the strategic border town of Kamanyola. The spokesperson for Operations Sukola 2 reported that Rwandan forces have stationed heavy weaponry on the Bugarama hills to maintain their strategic hold.
The Congolese army’s advance into Luvungi marks a systematic occupation of areas vacated by M23, attributed to intense military and diplomatic pressure, while M23 claims it as goodwill for peace efforts.