Several localities in Walikale Territory, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have once again fallen under the control of AFC/M23 rebel forces. Reports indicate that even the Walikale town center, which had previously been vacated by the group following the Doha peace talks, has been retaken.
Local eyewitnesses confirmed that AFC/M23 fighters launched fresh offensives to seize Walikale. Intense fighting with the Congolese army (FARDC) and Wazalendo militias reportedly lasted the entire day this past Tuesday.
This escalation comes shortly after the breakdown of the Doha negotiations. The talks collapsed after Kinshasa refused to release AFC/M23 political and military prisoners as had been agreed.
According to sources, AFC/M23 submitted a list of over 700 political detainees and soldiers allegedly imprisoned unlawfully by the Congolese government, most of whom were arrested for alleged affiliations with Christophe Baseane Nangaa, the former Governor of Haut-Uélé.
