M23 rebels have moved further into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reaching the outskirts of Walikale on Wednesday. This comes just a day after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda called for an immediate end to the fighting.
According to a Reuters report, residents recounted that they heard heavy gunfire near Walikale’s Nyabangi neighbourhood. A soldier, who spoke anonymously, said the rebels had attacked a military base by surprise. They are currently fighting Congo’s army and local defence groups.
Walikale, home to about 15,000 people, has valuable minerals like tin. It is the furthest west M23 has reached since starting its latest attacks. The town is 125 km (80 miles) from Goma, which the rebels took over in January. Their advance puts them within 400 km of Kisangani, one of Congo’s biggest cities.
The fighting in this new area has affected mining operations. A major tin mining company, Alphamin Resources, has had to stop work at its Bisie mine, 60 km away. Many fear the violence could spread even further.
Diplomatic efforts are increasing in the country. On Tuesday, Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame met in Qatar. It was their first direct discussion since the conflict worsened. They and Qatari officials called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire.
However, the M23 fighters continue to advance and capture more areas. Earlier, the group cancelled peace talks in Angola and blamed European Union sanctions on some of its leaders. The United Nations has accused Rwanda of helping M23 with weapons and soldiers. Rwanda denies this, claiming that its army is only protecting itself.
The conflict in eastern Congo involves more than 100 armed groups. Over 7 million people have been forced to leave their homes, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The escalation in recent months has raised concerns that a war might erupt.
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