FARDC-Wazalendo Confirm Kasake Recapture, Push Into Kalehe's Nteko-Miko M23 Command Post

FARDC and allied Wazalendo fighters confirmed the recapture of Kasake in Masisi's Bahunde chiefdom on Thursday, Sept 17, a day after fighting first broke out there, consolidating a week-long counteroffensive that had already retaken Miko hill, Katuunda, Remeka and Kaleta in Masisi and Mindjendje in Walikale. The push extended south into South Kivu's Kalehe territory, where government-aligned forces recaptured the villages of Mutara, Kivoka, Tushungute and Kashovu along with AFC/M23's Nteko-Miko command post — a first reversal of M23's Kalehe gains since the rebels overran the Ziralo grouping in mid-August. Military sources said one M23 commander and ten fighters were captured during the operations. No comprehensive casualty toll was available, and AFC/M23 did not publicly confirm the losses.