Fighting between the FARDC and the M23 rebels intensified in the early morning of this Wednesday, October 26, in the Rutshuru area (North Kivu).
Heavy weapon detonations have been heard since 6 local time on different fronts: Langira and Kabindi in the Jomba group, Musezero in the Busanza group and Ntamugenga in the Bweza group.
This is causing panic among the population, including in Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Rubare and Kalengera along the Goma-Rutshuru, local sources say.
At least two other civilians were killed in M23 shelling in Rangira, the sources say.
Administrative sources and civil society in the region speak of one of the bombs fired by the rebels which landed on a civilian house in Rangira around 9am local time, causing the deaths of two people, one of whom was a senior.
Another bomb, launched from the height of Ntamugenga, landed near Rubare without causing any casualties, the same sources add.
Several residents of major cities such as Kiwanja, Rubare and Kalengera gathered on various street corners on Wednesday.
Several students did not go to school. Many farmers could not go to their fields either.
According to our sources, the FARDC were still holding their positions in this combat area until 11 a.m. local time.