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In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, took control of the border town of Ishasha, located on the border with Uganda, on Sunday, August 4. The strategic location was captured without conflict after local self-defence groups and police withdrew.
According to local and security sources, the M23 fighters entered Ishasha in the early afternoon. This development was aided by the withdrawal of local armed groups supporting FARDC, and the withdrawal of the last police and security forces to Uganda, where they were disarmed by Ugandan authorities.
The takeover came on the first day of a ceasefire declared in Luanda, heightening tensions in the region. The day before, the rebels had already captured the town of Nyamilima, still in Rutshuru. Ishasha is located southeast of Lake Edward and is a strategic gateway to the north of North Kivu province and the port city of Nyakakoma.
In the evening, the M23 rebels organized a rally in front of the people of Ishasha town, which has more than 11,000 residents. An unnamed security source accused Rwanda of provocation, highlighting the complexity of the region’s geopolitics.
The local population, already affected by repeated clashes, has once again been plunged into a situation of great uncertainty and instability. Humanitarian organizations are concerned about a new wave of displacement and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
The capture of Ishasha by the M23 could have significant implications for regional security by strengthening the influence of insurgents in North Kivu and exacerbating tensions between the DRC and its neighbors, especially Uganda and Rwanda. The Congolese authorities and the international community are called upon to respond to this new escalation.
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