A major offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in east Democratic Republic of Congo appeared to have stalled on Saturday after the army took back some ground, two civil society sources and a local official said.
The Tutsi-led rebels have seized Goma, the largest city in east Congo and capital of North Kivu province, which is home to lucrative gold, coltan and tin mines.
They then moved on towards Bukavu in South Kivu province, adding to fears of a wider regional conflict, but appeared to be held up on Friday by Congolese troops supported by Burundi’s army.
Local civil society leader Justin Mulindangabo said Congo’s army had taken back the villages of Mukwija, Shanje, Numbi and Nyamasasa and other localities in Kalehe territory, around halfway between Goma and Bukavu.
Another civil society source said there was no fighting in Kalehe on Saturday morning.
A local official said the army had strengthened its position in Kalehe and retaken several villages including Mukwija. The source, who did not wish to be named for security reasons, said fighting was continuing elsewhere.
Congo’s army did not respond to a request for comment on the situation on Saturday. M23 could not be reached.
Burundian troops have been reinforcing Congolese forces in South Kivu and elsewhere at the request of the Kinshasa government.
They are among the forces seeking to block the advance of M23 and the Rwandan army north of Kavumu, a town 35 km (22 miles) north of Bukavu that is home to the city’s airport and hosts a number of Congolese drones and other aircraft.
