First Battle of Kitshanga
| First Battle of Kitshanga | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of M23 campaign | |||||||
The MONUSCO base in Kitshanga, just after the 2009 battle for the city. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| DRC |
March 23 Movement Rwanda (per DRC) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Félix Tshisekedi Guidon Shimirai Janvier Karairi (APCLS) | Sultani Makenga | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
FARDC NDC-R APCLS-Kambuzi Self-defense groups |
M23 forces Rwandan Defence Force (per DRC) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
Many killed 20,000+ displaced | |||||||
Between January 24 and 26, 2023, M23 rebels and Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) soldiers fought over the town of Kitshanga. The battle was part of the renewed M23 offensive, and ended on January 26 with M23 forces capturing the city. Civilians accused both M23 and FARDC-aligned militias of war crimes during and after the battle.