Heavy fighting continues to be reported in areas surrounding Rwitsankuku in Fizi Territory, where local sources say heavy weapons, including artillery, are being used in clashes between MRDP-Twirwaneho and a coalition of forces supporting the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to information obtained by Minembwe Capital News from sources close to military operations, artillery shells reportedly landed inside a FARDC military base located at an area known as Point Zéro.
It is alleged that the base hosts FARDC troops operating alongside Burundian forces, the Wazalendo militia, and the FDLR.
FARDC soldier in the area said:
“Artillery shells are currently landing inside our military base at Point Zéro. Some soldiers have started pulling back and fleeing due to the intensity of the attacks.”
This comes as fighting between MRDP-Twirwaneho and a coalition made up of FARDC, Burundian forces, Wazalendo, and FDLR continues to intensify near Rwitsankuku.
Reports from the area also indicate that MRDP-Twirwaneho has taken control of the Ngezi and Murusirita areas, while government forces and their allies say they are regrouping after being pushed back from some positions.
Earlier reports also indicated that an unidentified drone carried out attacks on FARDC positions and on troops coming from Point Zéro who were heading to reinforce the front line in Rwitsankuku. These reports claim that the attack caused heavy casualties among forces aligned with the Kinshasa government, although this has not been officially confirmed by military authorities.
On the other hand, sources in the area say that FARDC has also deployed drones to strike positions controlled by MRDP-Twirwaneho, particularly in Ngezi and Minembwe. However, it is reported that these attacks did not cause significant damage to MRDP-Twirwaneho forces, although these claims have not been independently verified.
As fighting continues to spread across parts of Fizi, many civilians are fleeing their homes due to insecurity, while both sides continue to use heavy weapons and advanced military equipment.
Analysts warn that the escalation of the conflict could further worsen the humanitarian situation and increase risks for civilians living in the area.
