New clashes have been reported early in the morning across several hills overlooking the strategic town of Sake, in the Masisi territory, about twenty kilometers from Goma. These confrontations pit the M23 rebels, backed by the Rwandan army (RDF), against the FARDC, supported by volunteers for homeland defense (VDP), commonly known as "Wazalendo".
The rebels continue to be stationed along the Sake-Mushaki-Masisi Centre route, passing through the mining town of Rubaya, which they have controlled for the past few days. They are also reported in Sake-Kitshanga-Mweso, Sake-Bweremana-Minova, while moving towards the neighbouring province of South Kivu.
According to local civil society sources, the M23 rebels launched an offensive with the aim of seizing Sake but were repelled. Fighting continued until 11 a.m. local time, according to sources in Masisi.
Dido Nsapu
North Kivu: New clashes between FARDC and M23/RDF break out around Sake
InternetKinshasaPolitics - After four months of attempting to take control of the strategic city of Sake, the M23 rebels, backed by the Rwandan army, initiate new fighting on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, around this last bastion of the army for the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.