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M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo engaged in heavy clashes with rival militias on Thursday, local sources said, in the latest violence to hit the troubled region.
A Tutsi-led group, the M23 has conquered swaths of territory in North Kivu province in recent months and advanced towards its capital Goma.
Fighting between the M23 and opposing armed groups broke out in the Tongo area of North Kivu's Rutshuru territory on Thursday, according to locals and militia members.
Safari Haguma, a local civil society figure, told AFP via telephone that heavy gunfire had been heard since that morning.
Dominique Ndaruhutse, the self-proclaimed general of the CMC/FDP militia, also confirmed the clashes and said 13 members of the M23 had been killed.
AFP was unable to independently confirm the death toll.
"We took up arms to defend the territorial integrity of our country and we will never accept being slaves," said Jules Mulumba, a spokesman for a coalition of armed groups that includes the CMC/FDP.
He added that he thought the M23 aimed to advance towards the town of Kitshanga, which lies about 125 kilometres (77 miles) to the west of Goma, in a bid to cut off the city.
(With input from AFP)
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Copyright © 2023 CGTN. 京ICP备16065310号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466