The M23 rebel group has captured the strategic town of Minova in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, cutting off a crucial supply route to the provincial capital of Goma, Al Jazeera reports.
The advancement marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that has plagued the region for decades.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, the provincial governor of South Kivu, said that M23 rebels also seized control of several other key locations, including the mining towns of Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje within South Kivu, and Bweremana in neighboring North Kivu province. The Congolese army acknowledged that the rebels had made “breakthroughs” in Minova and Bweremana, but stopped short of confirming their complete capture.
The M23, predominantly composed of ethnic Tutsis, is one of roughly 100 armed groups vying for power in the mineral-rich eastern DRC. The group resurged in 2022, quickly gaining ground and adding to the region’s already precarious security situation.
The conflict has resulted in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Since 1998, approximately six million people have lost their lives, and about seven million have been internally displaced. The United Nations refugee agency reported on Monday that over 237,000 people have been displaced in eastern Congo since the beginning of this year alone.
The DRC and the United Nations accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting M23 with both troops and weapons, allegations that Rwanda vehemently denies.
Fighting has intensified around Goma, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to seek refuge on the outskirts of the city. Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from Goma, said that residents are increasingly worried about stray bombs from the front lines reaching residential areas.
The capture of Minova, a key logistical hub, has severely impacted supply lines to Goma, with routes now cut off by fighting. Many residents are relying on often overcrowded boats crossing Lake Kivu for supplies, leading to frequent shipwrecks.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has stated that most international organizations and NGOs based in Minova have temporarily suspended their activities due to the escalating conflict.
The recent advances by M23 have raised serious concerns about the security of Goma, which the rebel group briefly captured in 2012.
