MRDP-Twirwaneho Pushes Back FARDC and Its Allies After Hours of Fighting
At dawn this Friday, heavy fighting once again erupted in the locality of Lundu, located in Fizi Territory, between MRDP-Twirwaneho and a coalition composed of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), Burundian troops, Wazalendo fighters, and the FDLR armed group.
According to information from the region, the clashes began in the early hours of the morning around Ruhinamavi before spreading and intensifying across several areas of Lundu, particularly in Kwa Gakina, Lundu wa Ibigori, and Kwa Buhimba, where intense combat continued for many hours.
Residents of these localities reported hearing both heavy and light weapons fire from dawn, prompting many civilians to flee to safer areas to avoid being caught between the opposing forces.
According to several corroborating sources that spoke to Minembwe Capital News, the fighting intensified around midday and throughout the afternoon. MRDP-Twirwaneho, a movement that claims to defend the security and rights of the Banyamulenge community, stated that it successfully pushed back the FARDC-led coalition and its allies following fierce battles in these different localities.
Sources close to the conflict zone reported that, after being repelled, some FARDC elements and their allies withdrew toward Bidegu before crossing the Lwiko River and moving into the Bicumbi sector and the surrounding areas of Point Zéro, where they reportedly began reorganizing their positions following the clashes.
So far, no official casualty figures or reports of injuries have been released by any of the parties involved. However, testimonies from local residents and multiple sources on the ground confirm the intensity of the fighting between the two sides.
By early Friday evening, several residents reported a noticeable decrease in the intensity of gunfire compared to the situation observed during the morning and throughout the day. Nevertheless, occasional detonations could still be heard in certain areas. Information that has not yet been independently confirmed by all parties concerned suggests that these may have been shots fired by FARDC and its allies during their withdrawal toward other positions.
At the time of writing, the intensity of the clashes appeared to have diminished, although the security situation remains fragile in this part of Fizi Territory. Local communities continue to follow developments with concern following these confrontations, which once again highlight the persistence of conflict in the Fizi and Minembwe regions.
Minembwe Capital News continues to monitor the situation and its impact on civilian populations and will provide reliable updates as more information becomes available.
