🇨🇩🇷🇼🇺🇬⚡- DR Congo sources report heavy military reinforcements have been arriving from Rwanda into Goma and the North Kivu region over the past 24-48 hours. After successfully capturing Uvira in South Kivu, DRC sources believe M23 are now turning their attention to the North Kivu region.

Reports indicate M23 are preparing to launch a large-scale offensive in an attempt to capture the major cities of Lubero, Butembo and even Beni. Unlike in South Kivu where M23 faced off with the Congolese, Burundian and Wazalendo armies, the three cities in North Kivu are under the control of the Ugandan Armed Forces, UPDF.

The presence of the UPDF in eastern Congo is shown on the map in light blue. Kinsasha had invited Kampala to assist fighting extremist groups in the Ituri region, such as the Islamic State, but more importantly CODECO. Uganda has been accused of supporting the Rwandan-backed M23 in the past, though those reports were never confirmed. However, in the past Kampala let Kigali 'secretly' know it did not appreciate the build-up of M23 along its borders, which led to the unusual exchange of territories between the UPDF and M23 just south of Lubero.