M23 Movement entered the small town of Kamanyola, located at the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Rwanda, on Tuesday night, according to local residents.
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Kamanyola, in Walungu territory, lies approximately 45 kilometers south of Bukavu and 70 kilometers north of Uvira, a city on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have not responded to the BBC’s request for information regarding the fall of Kamanyola.
According to Radio RFI, intense fighting broke out on Tuesday between M23 and Burundian troops stationed in Kamanyola. The Burundian forces eventually retreated. Reports suggest that Congolese troops from Bukavu and those stationed at the Kamanyola border had already fled to Uvira in the south several days earlier.
Kamanyola is situated in the Rusizi Valley, a region with a history of significant military engagements. In 1964, the town witnessed fierce battles when Mobutu Sese Seko’s “Armée Nationale Congolaise” crushed the rebellion of Pierre Mulele’s insurgents. A large monument of soldiers in the town commemorates this historic event.
Kamanyola held a special significance for former President Mobutu Sese Seko. One of DR Congo’s largest stadiums, “Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte”, which accommodates over 80,000 people, was initially named “Stade Kamanyola” when it was completed in 1994. However, the name was changed in 1997 after Mobutu was ousted from power.
Beyond the stadium, Mobutu owned a luxurious private boat purchased from Belgium, which he named Kamanyola. After his overthrow, Laurent-Désiré Kabila renamed the vessel Lemera. Mobutu also had a specialized military unit called the Kamanyola Division.
Historians note that in the decisive 1964 Battle of Kamanyola, Congolese government forces were led by General Major Mobutu Sese Seko himself. At the time, Mobutu was the army chief before seizing power in 1965. In 1971, he renamed the country Zaire, ruling for over three decades.
