Two civilians were killed and eight others injured during fierce fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels in Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province.
According to local residents, intense fighting erupted on Friday and continued into Saturday morning across several localities in Masisi Territory.
In Nkokwe locality, shelling reportedly killed two civilians and wounded eight others. Residents shared photographs showing some of the injured victims.On Saturday night, M23/AFC spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement confirming the deaths of two civilians and the injury of several others.
Kanyuka accuses FARDC and its coalition forces of indiscriminately shelling civilian-populated areas. He says the injured civilians were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.FARDC had not stated by press time responding to the allegations.
Despite ongoing peace talks, FARDC has continued launching artillery and aerial strikes against M23/AFC positions in North and South Kivu provinces. Fighting between the two sides has persisted, with each party accusing the other of violating ceasefire agreements. M23/AFC currently controls large parts of North and South Kivu provinces.
The movement, which re-emerged in 2022 under the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultan Makenga, remains actively engaged in combat against Congolese government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, allegations that have been repeatedly denied by both Kigali and M23/AFC leaders.
M23/AFC maintains that its armed struggle is aimed at addressing corruption, discrimination, insecurity, and governance failures within the DRC. In early 2025, the movement intensified its military campaign in eastern Congo, capturing several strategic towns and raising concerns about a wider regional conflict. URN