Information from various reliable sources indicates that on Saturday, December 13, fighters from Twirwaneho, allied with the AFC/M23 coalition, entered the town of Kipupu, considered the administrative capital of the Itombwe Sector, located in the mountainous area of Mwenga in South Kivu Province, without any fighting taking place.
Kipupu is situated in Bashimukindje 1 Grouping, an area with a long and complex history of security challenges and intercommunal relations, particularly in the Itombwe highlands, which for many years have experienced instability linked to armed conflict and political and security disputes.
According to ACTUALITE.CD, columns of fighters were seen entering the town during the daytime from the Mikenge area, where Twirwaneho has for some time demonstrated significant influence in controlling local security.
Residents and health sector workers say the arrival of AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho forces was sudden, especially since no clashes occurred.
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A staff member at the Itombwe General Hospital told ACTUALITE.CD:
“We were surprised to see these heavily armed forces arrive here in Kipupu around midday. Many residents immediately fled into the nearby bushes out of fear, but what shocked us most was that not a single shot was fired and nothing was damaged. For now, they are the ones controlling the town.”
The entry into Kipupu comes just days after the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their allies, including the Burundian army, began withdrawing from various parts of these mountainous areas, including the city of Uvira, which was taken by AFC/M23.
Since Friday, December 12, reports from local residents indicate that many villages in the Mwenga highlands have been emptied of their populations following the withdrawal of government forces, with civilians choosing to flee out of fear of violence, reprisals, or the possible outbreak of fighting.
So far, the local leader of Kipupu has not been reachable to comment on these developments, adding to the uncertainty surrounding local administration in the Itombwe area.
However, many residents say that although they fled during the initial hours, there is hope that security and calm could return to the town, given that the entry of these forces occurred peacefully, unlike what has happened in other towns captured in the past.
The entry of Twirwaneho, allied with AFC/M23, into Kipupu is seen as another major step in expanding control over southern parts of Kivu, particularly the strategically important Itombwe highlands, which are vital from a military standpoint and for securing routes linking Mwenga, Fizi, and Uvira.
Observers of the situation in the region say the current developments point to significant shifts in the dynamics of the conflict in eastern Congo, where some towns are being taken without fighting, highlighting serious weaknesses within state security structures.
