On Wednesday, M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan forces, launched a fresh assault on the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), seizing the mining town of Nyabibwe in South Kivu province. The attack marks a significant step in their ongoing campaign towards the regional capital, Bukavu, located approximately 100 kilometers away.
This offensive follows the M23’s recent capture of the strategic city of Goma in neighboring North Kivu. Despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by the armed group on Tuesday, which included assurances that they had no intentions of advancing toward Bukavu or other localities, fierce clashes erupted early Wednesday between M23 fighters, Rwandan forces, and the Congolese military.
The town of Nyabibwe, rich in mineral resources, is located about 70 kilometers from Bukavu’s airport. The Congolese government swiftly condemned the ceasefire as a mere tactic, with government spokesman Patrick Muyaya calling it “a ploy.” This marks the latest in a series of broken ceasefires and truces between the M23 and the Congolese army over the past three years of conflict.
The DRC’s army and M23 forces have reportedly been reinforcing their positions and equipment in anticipation of further escalation in the region. The capture of Goma last week had already raised alarms of a major intensification in the long-running conflict that has plagued the mineral-rich area for over three decades. The clashes in Goma led to at least 900 fatalities and left nearly 3,000 others wounded, according to the United Nations’ humanitarian body.
The ongoing violence has sparked widespread concerns of a broader regional conflict, prompting diplomatic intervention from regional organizations such as Angola and Kenya, as well as international bodies like the United Nations and the European Union, all working towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
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