According to the rebel organization, they will continue to move “all the way to Kinshasa”.
Following the organization’s threat to march all the way to the capital, Kinshasa, the M23 group is moving further south in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to local and humanitarian sources on Thursday.
Armed organizations have long dominated the mineral-rich east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the M23 group’s success and comeback have rocked the area and raised concerns throughout the world.
On Wednesday, M23 advanced on Kalehe town on Lake Kivu after taking control of two locations without a struggle.
The hub serves as a vital transit link between Goma to the north and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, which may also be in danger if M23 keeps moving south.
According to a civil society representative speaking on condition of anonymity, “the fighting is concentrated around the mining town of Nyabibwe”, which is around 100 kilometers north of Bukavu.
According to a civil society representative speaking on condition of anonymity, “the fighting is concentrated around the mining town of Nyabibwe”, which is around 100 kilometers north of Bukavu.
According to local and humanitarian reports, the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) have been stationed in the area with the help of Burundian military and local militias.
Kavumu city, which has a airfield, is the Congolese army’s primary line of defense in South Kivu.
Meanwhile, several Congolese military headquartered in Goma that were expelled by M23 have sought safety in Bukavu.
According to a group official, the advance will go “all the way to Kinshasa” on Thursday.
Rwandan military assisted M23 rebels in capturing Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, on Monday, according to the DRC, which claims Rwandan supports M23.
However, despite estimates from UN experts that there are up to 4,000 Rwandan military in the DRC, Rwanda denies aiding M3. Rwanda has accused DRV of recruiting former militias and Hutu rebels, whom its holds responsible for the 1994 genocide.
