Thousands of civilians have fled the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following renewed fighting between Congolese troops and M23 rebels. The resurgence comes after weeks of relative calm in the Rutshuru Territory. At least two people have been reportedly killed and several others injured in the clashes.
Officials in North Kivu province have said that M23 has captured Ntamugenga village, a strategic target that lies close to the highway leading north out of the provincial capital Goma. The capture of this village cuts off the rest of the province from the Capital a move that could impede the delivery of supplies and other basic amenities to the cut-off areas.
Since March, clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group have displaced at least 186,000 people, bringing the total number of displaced people in Rutshuru territory to more than 396,000.
