Members of the
Democratic Republic of Congo Army (DRC) coalition that had been defending the
town of Walikale in North Kivu Province have begun to flee in the direction of
Kisangani.
The forces began
to flee as they were increasingly overwhelmed by the M23 armed group at the
gates of this town, which is the capital of the Walikale Territory.
A DRC army
spokesman told Actualité that the M23 had already taken over their positions in
Ngora during the day, and that there were concerns that Kisima might also be
captured.
New information
from Walikale confirms that M23 fighters are in the Mubanda area, four
kilometers from the town of Walikale, when heavy gunfire was heard.
Another told the
newspaper that many soldiers were fleeing in the direction of Kisangani City in
Tshopo Province: “Many soldiers were fleeing along the road to Kisangani.”
M23 fighters had
recently captured the Kibua and Mpofu areas. On March 18, they had retreated
after being attacked by DRC troops and Wazalendo groups.
