443:(RDF) of aiding M23 in the fighting in Kitshanga. Colonel Guillaume Ndjike, a Congolese army spokesman, stated that the army was in control of Kitshanga and that fighting continued ten kilometers away from the city. The M23, however, continued trying to intercept the Goma-Butembo road, upon which traffic had ceased. By the morning of January 26, the frontline was located in the villages of Kilolirwe, Monastere, Kabale-Kasha, Burungu, and Tebero. Central Kitshanga, despite still being under FARDC and allied control, was quiet. However, much of the countryside surrounding the city was M23 controlled or under their influence. Displaced civilians fled to Mweso, Kashuga, Kalembe, and other villages in mountainsides surrounding the city.
99:
436:-Guidon, and FARDC in Uli. The FARDC contingent in Uli was hit first, with fighting raging in the northeastern part of the city. Residents in Bambo and Nyamilima reported reduced numbers of M23 fighters, signaling many went to Kitshanga to fight. By the end of January 24, FARDC and allied militias were able to push M23 to the outskirts of the city, where clashes intensified around villages like Rushembeshe. Many residents of Kitshanga fled the initial fighting towards refugee camps.
34:
130:
109:
411:
from FARDC and allied Mai-Mai militias in late
December. Despite being urged by international pressure to retreat from Kibumba and Bwito territory in late December, M23 and Rwandan allies clashed with FARDC and Mai-Mai between December 26 and January 3. M23 also continued to take territory in these
463:
Fighting continued in
Burungu and Kilolirwe after Kitshanga fell, although a spokesperson for a FARDC-allied militia claimed that FARDC and allies were still fighting in Kitshanga on January 27. Kilolirwe fell that same day. The Congolese army stated later on January 27 that they withdrew from the
475:. The Congolese government accused the Rwandan Army of participating in the capture of the city, and perpetrating massacres against the civilians along with M23. The United Nations estimated that 20,000 civilians were displaced from Kitshanga and the surrounding villages.
398:
M23, which rose to prominence in 2012, is a
Rwandan-backed Tutsi group that has been fighting the Congolese government in eastern Congo. Initially, the Congolese government (FARDC) defeated the group, but they saw a resurgence in late 2021. M23 launched an offensive in
419:
Shelling in
Kitshanga damaged civilian property on January 20, killing three people and injuring one. Other attacks hit churches and other civilian infrastructure. While the perpetrator of the shelling is unknown, it was suspected to be by M23.
454:
stated that they saw M23 killing civilians throughout the city. Self-defense groups attempted to hold back the rebels, but were unsuccessful. M23 was in full control of
Kitshanga by 4:45pm that day, and Congolese forces fled to Mweso.
1137:
1122:
428:
Fighting for
Kitshanga broke out around 4am local time in the eastern outskirts of the city on January 24. The first attacks were directed against various militias defending the city, including
416:
demanded for a second time the withdrawal of M23 from these territories on
January 15. These calls came after the M23 withdrew from Rumangabo military base, but increased fighters in Kibumba.
1054:
495:
646:
379:
184:
467:
Civilians fleeing the fighting were raped and attacked by FARDC-aligned fighters in the villages around
Kitshanga during the battle. The fighters were allegedly
390:, and ended on January 26 with M23 forces capturing the city. Civilians accused both M23 and FARDC-aligned militias of war crimes during and after the battle.
496:"UNICEF DRC Situation Report Update No. 13 (Upsurge of Violence in Rutshuru Territory): 05 February 2023 - Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb"
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264:
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1055:"UNICEF DRC Situation Report Update No. 13 (Upsurge of Violence in Rutshuru Territory): 05 February 2023 - Democratic Republic of the Congo"
1005:"Nord-Kivu: Kitshanga entre les mains du M23 soutenu par le Rwanda, l'armée parle d'un repli stratégique dans le but d'épargner les civils"
1079:
735:
1030:"RDC: la prise de Kitshanga facilitée par des troupes rwandaises équipées en moyens terrestres et anti-aériens, accuse le gouvernement"
877:"Attaque du M23 contre Kitshanga: " 450 personnes forcées de se déplacer, ont trouvé refuge dans et autour de la base de la MONUSCO ""
170:
1127:
591:
537:
764:"RDC: avion militaire congolais visé par un tir près de l'aéroport de Goma, des combats également à une dizaine de km de Kitchanga"
387:
304:
25:
816:
976:
621:
433:
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647:"Africa/DR Congo - M23 rebels withdraw from Rumangabo military base, but does not withdraw from other locations - Agenzia Fides"
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259:
232:
675:
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447:(United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) took in 450 refugees.
242:
1117:
926:
847:"RDC: Le trafic entre Goma-Butembo via Kitshanga coupé, le combat entre l'armée et le M23 se poursuit ce jeudi"
464:
city. Civilians accused MONUSCO of not accepting refugees into the base near the city, which MONUSCO denied.
227:
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134:
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in late 2022, capturing large swathes of territory in North Kivu. During their offensive, M23 attacked
472:
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789:"RDC: nouveaux combats entre FARDC et M23 dans plusieurs localités voisines de Kitshanga"
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404:
331:
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375:
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237:
194:
708:"RDC-M23: des combats autour de Kitshanga, l'axe de contour Butembo-Goma menacé"
412:
attacks. At a summit in Angola, regional leaders including
Congolese president
67:
383:
63:
450:
M23 overran
Kitshanga around 10am on January 26. Civilians speaking to the
736:"Affrontements FARDC-M23: la cité de Kitshanga se vide de ses habitants"
444:
39:
592:"RDC: que contrôle encore le M23 après la date butoir du 15 janvier?"
538:"RDC: que contrôle encore le M23 après la date butoir du 15 janvier?"
108:
429:
116:
103:
977:"RDC: les combattants du M23 ont progressé au nord-ouest de Goma"
1080:"DR Congo celebrate recapture of town from rebels in North Kivu"
468:
162:
166:
902:"Fighting intensifies in eastern Congo, displacing hundreds"
1138:
January 2023 events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
42:
base in Kitshanga, just after the 2009 battle for the city.
817:"Fresh Clashes as M23 Rebels Make Gains in East DR Congo"
622:"Fresh clashes erupt between M23 rebels, DR Congo forces"
676:"DR Congo: Killings, Rapes by Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels"
568:"Fighting resumes in Kivu between FARDC and M23 rebels"
513:"DR Congo: Killings, Rapes by Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels"
1123:
Battles involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo
380:
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
927:"RDC: les rebelles du M23 contrĂ´lent Kitshanga"
730:
728:
18:
811:
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999:
997:
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178:
8:
478:FARDC recaptured Kitshanga in October 2023.
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171:
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382:(FARDC) soldiers fought over the city of
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953:"M23 Fully Controlling Kitchanga Town"
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374:Between January 24 and 26, 2023,
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72:Democratic Republic of the Congo
1:
951:Writter, Staff (2023-01-27).
386:. The battle was part of the
305:M23 offensive (2022–present)
233:2009 Eastern Congo offensive
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66:and surrounding villages,
243:2014 North Kivu offensive
202:
154:
141:
90:
46:
31:
23:
19:First Battle of Kitshanga
1128:Battles involving Rwanda
1036:(in French). 2023-01-28
1011:(in French). 2023-01-27
983:(in French). 2023-01-27
933:(in French). 2023-01-26
883:(in French). 2023-01-26
853:(in French). 2023-01-26
795:(in French). 2023-01-25
770:(in French). 2023-01-24
742:(in French). 2023-01-24
714:(in French). 2023-01-24
598:(in French). 2023-01-17
544:(in French). 2023-01-17
238:M23 rebellion (2012–13)
228:2008 Nord-Kivu campaign
347:Kasindi church bombing
135:Rwandan Defence Forces
407:territory, capturing
388:renewed M23 offensive
310:Anti-MONUSCO protests
142:Casualties and losses
1133:M23 offensive (2022)
441:Rwanda Defence Force
248:2017 CNPSC offensive
498:. 23 February 2023.
342:August 2022 attacks
120:Self-defense groups
54:January 24–26, 2023
680:Human Rights Watch
517:Human Rights Watch
439:FARDC accused the
401:Rutshuru Territory
362:Kirindera massacre
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315:Kishishe massacre
218:Makobola massacre
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157:20,000+ displaced
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414:FĂ©lix Tshisekedi
357:Mukondi massacre
352:Makugwe massacre
337:Otomabere attack
223:Makombo massacre
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26:M23 offensive
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1100:
1088:. Retrieved
1086:. 2023-10-16
1083:
1074:
1063:. Retrieved
1061:. 2023-02-23
1058:
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1038:. Retrieved
1034:Actualite.cd
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1009:Actualite.cd
1008:
985:. Retrieved
981:Actualite.cd
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931:Actualite.cd
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921:
910:. Retrieved
908:. 2023-01-26
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885:. Retrieved
881:Actualite.cd
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855:. Retrieved
851:Actualite.cd
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825:. Retrieved
823:. 2023-01-26
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797:. Retrieved
793:Actualite.cd
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772:. Retrieved
768:Actualite.cd
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744:. Retrieved
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712:Actualite.cd
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684:. Retrieved
682:. 2023-06-13
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629:. Retrieved
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600:. Retrieved
596:Actualite.cd
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542:Actualite.cd
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521:. Retrieved
519:. 2023-06-13
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91:Belligerents
378:rebels and
155:Many killed
82:M23 victory
1107:Categories
1090:2024-01-25
1084:Africanews
1065:2024-01-25
1040:2024-01-25
1015:2024-01-25
987:2024-01-25
962:2024-01-25
937:2024-01-25
912:2024-01-25
887:2024-01-25
857:2024-01-25
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718:2024-01-25
686:2024-01-25
656:2024-01-25
631:2024-01-25
602:2024-01-25
577:2024-01-25
572:New Vision
548:2024-01-23
523:2024-01-23
482:References
432:-Kambuzi,
394:Background
68:North Kivu
459:Aftermath
384:Kitshanga
137:(per DRC)
64:Kitchanga
275:Kangbayi
59:Location
24:Part of
906:AP News
445:MONUSCO
295:Bulongo
265:Virunga
150:Unknown
147:Unknown
40:MONUSCO
424:Battle
290:Mwenda
285:Tingwe
280:Lisasa
79:Result
434:NDC-R
430:APCLS
409:Bambo
260:Oicha
113:NDC-R
104:FARDC
471:and
469:FDLR
51:Date
38:The
376:M23
124:M23
1109::
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186:e
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172:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
