DR Congo army says it takes back Kalembe from M23, rebels deny 

KINSHASA — 

Democratic Republic of Congo's service connected Tuesday said it had taken backmost the eastbound municipality of Kalembe, a time aft it was seized by M23 rebels, but rebels said they inactive controlled the town.

Kalembe, a tiny municipality successful Walikale territory successful militia-plagued North Kivu, came nether M23 power connected Sunday greeting erstwhile rebels seized it from Congolese equipped forces and pro-government equipped groups.

The Tutsi-led M23 radical has been waging a renewed insurgency successful the cardinal African country's eastbound since 2022. Congo and the United Nations impeach neighboring Rwanda of backing the radical with its ain troops and weapons. Rwanda denies this.

Congo service spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge said Kalembe had been taken backmost connected Monday. But Corneille Nangaa, person of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes M23, said rebels were inactive successful control.

Ekenge said warring was ongoing betwixt the pro-government militia and the M23 successful areas that were not nether service control.

Military troops were flown successful connected helicopters connected Monday greeting to woody with the situation, helium said.

The M23's incursion into Kalembe violated an Angola-mediated ceasefire agreed successful August, Angola's authorities said connected Monday.

An authoritative from Walikale territory, Kabaki Alimasi, confirmed the service had taken the municipality backmost but said warring continued nearby.

"The M23 are not far," helium said. "We tin perceive gunfire, the colonisation that fled has not yet returned."

The insurgency successful Congo's mineral-rich eastbound has deepened a humanitarian situation successful North Kivu, wherever astir 2.6 cardinal radical were displaced arsenic of end-September, according to the United Nations.