M23 Rebels Capture Key Town in Eastern DR Congo

Confidence UbaniJanuary 21, 20251 Mins read333

The M23 rebel group has captured Minova, a key town in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The city serves as an important supply route to Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi confirmed Tuesday that rebels seized Minova following intense clashes. Congolese army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge said clashes are ongoing on multiple fronts and accused the “Rwandan army and its proxies” of supporting the M23 rebels. Rwanda has, in the past, denied these accusations. He did not confirm who controlled the town but stated that ‘the enemy’ had advanced to Bweremana in North Kivu and Minova in South Kivu.

Residents reported that rebels entered Minova early Tuesday, forcing government troops to withdraw. James Musanganya, a civil society leader, said the rebels tried to calm fleeing residents, but many sought safety in more secure areas. In Goma, heavy gunfire was heard, which disrupted activities and forced schools to close.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) called the situation in Minova tense. Already home to many displaced people, the town has seen more residents flee southwards. OCHA estimates that fighting has displaced over 178,000 people since early January.

Humanitarian groups have paused operations in Minova due to insecurity. A coordinator with an international NGO warned that without aid workers, displaced people would lose critical assistance.

Although the Congolese army recently reclaimed towns like Ngungu in Masisi territory, other areas remain under rebel control, including Masisi Centre. The M23 rebellion resurfaced in 2022 and displaced nearly two million people. The DRC government and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of backing the rebels with weapons and troops, claims that Rwanda denies. Authorities say they are monitoring the situation as fighting spreads across the region.