By Adeyemi Adekunle
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army suffered a significant setback on Monday after losing control of Matembe, a strategic town in the embattled North Kivu province, to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
The development marks a sharp escalation in the conflict, coming just a day after a high-level peace summit between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, was abruptly canceled.
Matembe, situated along the critical route to Butembo, North Kivu’s major commercial hub, fell to M23 forces following intense clashes that erupted on Sunday. The fighting continued into Monday, spreading to the hills between Matembe and the nearby town of Vutsorovya.
While speaking John Mahangaiko, spokesperson for a pro-Kinshasa militia allied with government forces, confirmed the army’s retreat in the face of relentless rebel offensives. “The situation remains tense, and fighting has resumed in the hills surrounding the town,” Mahangaiko said. A Congolese military source, who requested anonymity, further acknowledged that the army was forced to withdraw after heavy engagements with the rebels.
The loss of Matembe signals a major blow for Congolese forces as it brings the M23 rebels closer to Butembo, a vital economic lifeline in eastern DRC. This setback is likely to exacerbate tensions in the region, where M23’s resurgence has already displaced thousands and heightened fears of a full-scale conflict.
The deteriorating military situation coincides with a breakdown in diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis. A peace summit, scheduled for Sunday and hosted by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who is also the African Union mediator, was unexpectedly called off after marathon overnight negotiations failed to produce progress.
According to the Congolese presidency, the impasse resulted from Rwanda’s insistence that Kinshasa engage in direct dialogue with the M23 rebels—an option the DRC government has repeatedly rejected.
The collapse of talks and continued rebel advances underline the fragile state of peace efforts in the region. With tensions at a boiling point, the international community faces mounting pressure to intensify mediation efforts and prevent further territorial losses in eastern DRC.
