Staff Reporter
Women and children make up a significant portion of the refugees fleeing to Uganda due to ongoing clashes between M23 rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forces in North Kivu province.
On Sunday evening, M23 rebels captured the Ishasha border post in the DRC, which borders Kanungu District in Uganda. This followed their recent takeover of Nyamilima in the east, occurring on the last day of a “humanitarian truce.”
The M23, which had been dormant for nearly a decade, launched a new offensive in North Kivu towards the end of 2021, subsequently seizing large areas of territory. The group’s actions have driven many Congolese to seek refuge in Uganda.
After the capture of the Ishasha border post on Sunday evening, approximately 2,000 Congolese fled to Uganda. However, Emmy Munyontore, the Commandant at Nyakabande Transit Center in Kisoro District, reported that the M23 rebels later addressed the refugees, reassured them of their safety, and urged them to return home. Munyontore indicated that 619 Congolese are currently at the Matanda screening center in Kanungu District.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Badru Ssebyala noted that most of the refugees at the Nyakabande Transit Center are women and children. He questioned the relatively low number of men among the refugees and mentioned that security agencies are investigating this trend.
Ssebyala assured that despite the conflict extending to the Ishasha border post, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and other security agencies are on high alert in Kisoro to ensure the safety of local residents.
Commandant Munyontore also reported that Nyakabande Transit Center is currently housing 1,839 refugees who fled the DRC due to fears of rebel attacks. He noted that the center is facing challenges, including security concerns related to the spontaneous return of refugees.
The eastern region of the DRC, known for its rich mineral resources, has been embroiled in conflict for the past 30 years, involving both local and foreign armed factions, a situation rooted in the regional conflicts of the 1990s.
