KINSHASHA- The Democratic Republic of Congo Army has lost a territor in fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a day after a peace summit between President Felix Tshisekedi Thilombo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda was canceled.
The Kigali-backed M23 rebel militia has seized swathes of big territory in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo where they displaced thousands and triggering a humanitarian crisis, since 2021.
The Rwanda government has however, vehemently denied the reports that it is supporting the M23 rebels or providing any kind Logistics.
According to the local and military sources, the Democratic Republic of Congo armed forces lost control of Matembe, a town in North Kivu province located on the road to the key commercial hub of Butembo, after clashes broke out on Sunday with the M23 rebels.
A Spokesperson for a Pro-Kinshasa militia operating alongside the army in the area, John Mahangaiko, told journalists today morning that fighting resumed early yesterday in the hills between Matembe and the neighboring town of Vutsorovya and the Democratic Republic of Congo Military source confirmed that the Army was forced to withdraw and retreat to a safer place.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi Thilombo and his Rwandan counterpart, Gen Paul Kagame were due to meet on Sunday at a meeting hosted by the African Union appointed mediator Angolan President Joao Lourenco to discuss modalities to end the conflict.
However, the summit was abruptly canceled after talks between delegations from both sides stalled overnight and failed to agree on the agenda.
A statement from the Congolese Presidency indicated that negotiations had hit a deadlock over a Rwandan demanded that the Denocratic Republic of Congo hold direct dialogue with the M23 rebels.
The mineral-rich Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is home to a string of rival armed groups, and has been plagued by internal and cross-border violence for the past three decades.
