AFC/M23 Retakes Kibati in Walikale as Fresh Clashes Erupt at Mukohwa in Masisi

Fresh fighting broke out overnight between Thursday and Friday, Sept 17-18, around the Mukohwa agglomeration near the Humura trading center in Masisi's Nyamaboko I grouping, between FARDC-Wazalendo forces and AFC/M23 rebels; heavy and light weapons fire was audible for several kilometers, and combat continued into Friday morning without casualties reported. A wider Actualite.cd front-line survey the same day found the security situation 'particularly volatile' across Masisi: FARDC and Wazalendo held a Mindjendje-Mpety-Luola-Ngambi-Buhimba-Chanjikiro-Kalinga perimeter in Walikale's Kisimba grouping and the Miko-Remeka-Kaleta-Kasake-Ngungu areas of Masisi's Ufamandu I, alongside Humura, Rutoboko, Ngululu and Mahanga in Nyamaboko I — but AFC/M23 had retaken Kibati in Walikale, days after losing it to the Sept 14 FARDC-Wazalendo offensive, and continued to hold a Malemo-Kalembe-Kalonge-Ihula axis in Bashali Mokoto, with Hembe, Pinga, Bushimoo and Kalonge still contested. Intense fighting has closed schools and driven further displacement across the affected zones.