The fighting began early in the morning in Luke, where residents reported hearing mortar fire as M23 attempted to retake positions it had abandoned a month earlier.
'We have nowhere to go. This morning we heard the sound of mortars, that's how it started. It's M23 and Wazalendo fighting,' a resident told reporters.
After being forced out of Luke, Wazalendo fighters retreated south to Ngululu but also lost Mulema. Both areas fall within Nyamaboko 1 groupement.
Clashes the same day were also reported in Kazinga, near the border between Masisi and Walikale territories, and in Kibandamangobo forest in Shabunda territory, South Kivu. In Shabunda, M23 fought Wazalendo forces backed by the Congolese army (FARDC). Observers say the towns of Shabunda and Mwenga could be affected by the ongoing fighting.
The escalation comes as Qatar pushes to mediate between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 coalition, under peace principles signed on July 29, 2025. Negotiations are expected this week in Doha, with delegations set to discuss measures including prisoner releases.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/m23-captures-two-areas-in-masisi-after-clashes-with-wazalendo
