M23 Rebels Capture Key Towns in Eastern DR Congo, Including Minova

M23 rebels have seized the town of Minova in eastern DR Congo, a key supply route for the provincial capital Goma, according to local authorities. The capture of Minova was confirmed by the governor of South Kivu, Jean-Jacques Purusi, who also reported that the rebels had taken control of other towns, including Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje in South Kivu, as well as Bweremana in neighbouring North Kivu.

The DRC army acknowledged the rebels’ “breakthroughs” in Minova and Bweremana but did not confirm if the towns had been fully captured. M23, an armed group formed by ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army over a decade ago, has gained significant ground in eastern DRC since its resurgence in 2022. The group is part of a broader conflict involving over 100 armed factions vying for control of the region’s mineral resources.

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The ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo has led to a dire humanitarian situation, with approximately six million people killed since 1998 and about seven million displaced. The United Nations refugee agency reported that over 237,000 people have been displaced in the region since the start of 2024.

There are growing accusations from the DRC and the United Nations that Rwanda is providing support to the M23 rebels with troops and weapons, though Rwanda denies the claims. The situation in the region remains tense, with the humanitarian crisis deepening amid continued fighting.