M-23 rebels seize strategic city in DR Congo

In the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the military rebel group M-23 has captured the key supply city of Minova. The group is also advancing towards the provincial capital, Goma, near the Rwandan border, causing thousands of Congolese to flee.

The capture of Minova is considered a significant victory for the M-23 rebels, who have been fighting the Congolese army since November 2022 for control and resources like copper, cobalt, gold, and diamonds. The movement originated in 2012 after a mutiny by Tutsi soldiers from the government army.

The United Nations claims that the armed militia is supported by Rwanda, though Rwanda denies these allegations. Violence has also surged in Saké, a town 25 kilometers west of Goma.

The rebel group has moved toward northern border areas, intending to seize a strategic airport, according to UN intelligence. M-23 has never gained so much territory before, reports Reuters based on analysts.

In 2012 and 2013, the Congolese army and rebels fought each other, and since the M-23 rebels resumed fighting in 2022, hundreds of civilians have died, and over 7 million Congolese are displaced within the country. More than half of the displaced are children, and currently, one in four people in the country relies on humanitarian assistance.

Source: NOS

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