Fighting between the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and the rebel group " M23" (March 23 Movement) resumed in the eastern part of the country in another violation of the ceasefire agreement ahead of potential negotiations with mediators, the Associated Press reported, citing BTA, citing statements from both sides in the conflict.< /p>
An army statement said its troops inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels in Lubero territory in North Kivu province on Monday, including several killed and wounded. Spokesman of "M23" said in X that the group was attacked again by the army early yesterday morning.
"M23" is one of 100 armed groups fighting for positions in the resource-rich eastern part of DR Congo, near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has sparked one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises. Over 7 million people have been displaced since the fighting began.
DR Congo and UN accuse Rwanda of supporting "M23". Rwanda denies the claim, but in February acknowledged it had troops and missile systems in eastern DR Congo to ensure its security, pointing to the buildup of Congolese forces near the border. UN experts estimate that there are up to 4,000 military personnel from Rwanda in DR Congo, AP notes.
Last week, the foreign ministers of DR Congo and Rwanda agreed on the terms and conditions for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from eastern DR Congo.
In July, Kinshasa signed a truce with "M23" which came into effect in August, but fighting has since resumed. Earlier this month, the US said it was "gravely concerned" of the violations of the cease-fire agreement by the "M23" rebels.
The renewed fighting comes as the presidents of DR Congo and Rwanda, Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, are due to meet on December 15, according to Angola's state news agency, which is mediating the conflict. This will be their first official meeting since last year, AP notes.