On the morning of this Monday, intense fighting erupted in the Bijabo forest, located in the Mulenge area of Fizi Territory, South Kivu Province. The clashes involved the Congolese government forces (FARDC), Burundian troops, and their allied militias including the Wazalendo and FDLR, against the AFC/M23 coalition.
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The offensive, launched by the government troops and their allies from the areas of Ndondo in Bijombo and Lower Mboko, ended in a swift defeat at the hands of the AFC/M23 coalition forces — all within just two hours of fighting.
According to a member of the AFC/M23 coalition who spoke to KIVU PRIDE, the government forces and their allies were pushed back in a humiliating fashion.
“The enemy fled, and what they experienced will not be easily forgotten,” said the soldier.
Sources from the front lines confirm that the Bijabo forest is one of the key strongholds of the AFC/M23 coalition. This is believed to be the main reason the government troops, along with the Burundian army, FDLR, and Wazalendo militias, chose to target it.
However, as of now, the leadership of the AFC/M23 coalition has not released any official statement regarding their preparations or what enabled them to repel the government forces and their allies so decisively.
This confrontation has further destabilized the Mulenge area and highlights the growing influence of the AFC/M23 coalition, which continues to gain ground in South Kivu Province through combat and victories over government offensives and their partners.
Security analysts observe that the newly formed AFC/M23 coalition continues to stand firm in the face of repeated attacks, signaling significant shifts in the political and security landscape of eastern Congo.
