DR Congo govt forces launch assaults on a number of fronts towards AFC/M23 troops

[ad_1] DR Congo authorities forces launched an assault on AFC/M23 rebels within the nation's east, utilizing drones to strike a strategic mining website occupied by the Rwanda-backed rebels, safety sources informed AFP Wednesday.

The combating on Wednesday was concentrated specifically in areas close to the mining city of Rubaya, the place AFC/M23 troopers have been hit by a drone strike the day past, native and safety sources informed AFP.

The Rubaya mine produces 15 to 30 % of the world's provide of coltan, key to creating electronics reminiscent of laptops and cell phones.

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Since its resurgence in 2021, the AFC/M23 has taken huge tracts of the DRC's resource-rich east, capturing the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province in April 2024 with Rwanda's assist.

Its advance intensified the greater than three-decades-long battle which has ravaged the japanese DRC, the place dozens of rival armed teams and international powers have lengthy vied for management of the area's wealthy veins of beneficial minerals.

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The AFC/M23 in December launched an offensive on the strategic metropolis of Uvira, a strategic city in South Kivu province close to the border with Burundi.

The assault drew condemnation from the US, which has mediated a fragile peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda.

Angola, one other mediator, had proposed a ceasefire to take impact on February 18, although it has completed little to halt hostilities.

'Persons are terrified' On Wednesday, native militias backed by Congolese troopers carried out assaults throughout a number of factors of the entrance line in North Kivu, notably in Masisi – the place Rubaya is positioned – in response to native and safety sources.

These militias captured the village of Kazinga on Wednesday, some 20 kilometres northwest of Rubaya, the identical sources mentioned.

Based on UN specialists, the AFC/M23 has arrange an administration parallel to the Congolese state to control the operation of the Rubaya mine since its seize.

"In central Rubaya, individuals are terrified. I went to see the place the place the drone struck, however entry was denied," a resident informed AFP Tuesday, requesting anonymity.

AFP was unable to substantiate the loss of life toll from the strike as telephone networks within the space have been down since Tuesday and Congolese authorities and civil society teams fled when the AFC/M23 arrived.

Clashes have been additionally reported Wednesday within the South Kivu highlands, the place the Congolese military is battling a coalition of militias allied with the AFC/M23.

Outmatched on the bottom by the better-equipped AFC/M23 and Rwandan troops, Kinshasa's forces have relied partially on US strain on Kigali to stabilise the entrance line, regional specialists and safety sources informed AFP.

Additionally they mentioned Kinshasa has secured relative management of its skies due to long-range Chinese language and Turkish drones, and the assistance of international paramilitaries.