Taarifa war correspondent reports that the battle hardened AFC/M23 rebels have taken control of Bitale town located in Kalehe territory in South Kivu after an intense two days of fighting.

As of Monday the AFC/M23 rebels had seized Bitale town effectively ejecting the government troops allied with Burundi Army and Wazalendo militia.

This strategic locality, located on the Tshivanga–Bulambika–Hombo axis, near the Kahuzi-Biega national park, had until then been a position controlled by government forces and their Wazalendo allies.

According to local security sources, the FARDC and the Wazalendo retreated towards Bulambika after the fall of Bitale. The human and material toll of the fighting is not yet known.

The capture of this town triggered a major displacement of civilians. Fearing for their safety, many residents fled the area to neighboring towns, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis already affecting this part of South Kivu.

Attention is now focused on the evolving situation on the Bulambika-Hombo axis, where further clashes cannot be ruled out in the coming hours.