According to civil society members, the Zambian army continues to occupy 7 localities in the Congolese province of Tanganyika. This is preventing some villagers, who had sought refuge in neighbouring territories, from returning home.
Around mid March 2020, gun confrontation broke out between the Congolese and Zambian army in the border territory of Moliro; fighting lasted for almost three days and the Zambian army took control of some of villages in Congo, including that of Kalubamba and Kibanga, which they still occupy today.
The Congolese authorities have since deployed a large military contingent in the region but are giving priority to diplomatic engagement, even seeking the assistant of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
The civil society however believe that diplomatic talks are not producing any results and have called on the central government in Kinahasa to give a go ahead for fighting to commence.
Earlier in the month , Zambian foreign minister Joseph Malanji denied any presence of its soldiers on Congolese soil and instead accused Congolese troops of raiding Zambian villages and stealing livestock.
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