M23 rebels have launched another offensive on the strategic town of Sake, located in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congolese news portal Actualite reported.
Rebel forces attacked forward army positions on the outskirts of Sake on Monday morning, according to the media outlet. Moreover, M23 rebels reportedly dropped more than 25 bombs on the outskirts of Sake. These strikes mainly targeted the northern part, in particular the locality of Kimoka, still inhabited by a few civilians.
So far, government troops have managed to repel the attackers. Intense fighting is underway in the hills surrounding Sake, which remains under the control of Congolese military forces and has been subjected to mortar fire. There have been no reports of casualties on either side yet.
The conflict over Sake between rebels and government forces resumed in early January. Sake is strategically located on the highway to Goma, the capital of North Kivu.
Last year, the rebels attempted to capture Sake as a stepping stone for an offensive on Goma, which is situated near the Rwandan border. The two places are 27 kilometers apart.
Despite the ongoing clashes, a formal ceasefire between government forces and the M23 rebels remains in effect in North Kivu, having been implemented in early August 2024.