AFC/M23 return to Kateku and Kanune threatens hopes for de-escalation

AFC/M23 rebels have returned to Kateku and Kanune in eastern DR Congo’s Walikale territory, days after reports that they had pulled back from parts of the area, raising fresh uncertainty for civilians hoping to go home.

According to ACTUALITE.CD, the fighters were back in the two localities on Saturday, March 28, after a brief withdrawal.

The reported return follows a fast-moving sequence on the Walikale front. it was earlier reported that AFC/M23 elements withdrew from Kanune, Minjenje and Mpety on March 26, while Kateku was said to have briefly fallen under Wazalendo control after clashes a day later.

A separate conflict review by Critical Threats also noted reported M23 withdrawals from forward positions in Walikale district during the same period.

That shifting pattern now points less to a settled disengagement than to a fluid repositioning on a highly unstable axis. Earlier reporting on Kanune had already described reinforced rebel positions and persistent insecurity in the area, underlining how quickly control can change on the ground.

For local residents, the immediate consequence is renewed fear of another cycle of clashes and displacement. The latest movements come as broader warnings mount over worsening violence in eastern Congo, with the UN alarmed by continued fighting across North and South Kivu and the risks posed to civilians.

Source:ACTUALITE.CD