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Congo army gains ground against rebels
October 28, 2013, 2:53 am

The FARDC national army has delivered a series of defeats to the M23 rebels [AP]

The FARDC national army has delivered a series of defeats to the M23 rebels [AP]

Congo’s national armed forces (FARDC) have declared a small victory in renewed fighting with the M23 rebel movement near Goma, the capital of the northern Kivu province over the weekend.

The fighting broke a month-long de facto cessation of hostilities, with both sides accusing the other of initiating violence.

In September, M23 rebels suffered a series of defeats as contingents of a 19,000-strong UN force – the UN Mission for Stabilisation of Congo (MONUSCO) – assisting FARDC managed to push the movement further north.

The M23 movement had since April threatened to attack the towns of Goma, Beni and Butembo in North-Kivu province. In July, M23 launched an offensive against Mutaho village in eastern Congo.

The rebel group, emerging in April 2012, seized control of Goma in December last year, but withdrew from the town 10 days later under the pressure of Great Lakes countries for a peaceful solution.

FARDC spokesman in North Kivu province Olivier Hamuli told the media that the military was in control of Kibumba locality in Kivu and further missions to liberate surrounding areas were ongoing.