M23 rebels have taken control of the town of Minova in eastern Congo, a crucial supply route to the provincial capital of Goma, according to authorities on Tuesday. This development has triggered a significant outflow of residents as the rebel group intensifies its offensive, having already captured several strategic towns in recent weeks.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, the provincial governor of South Kivu, confirmed the fall of Minova and noted that the rebels have also seized the mining towns of Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje within the province, as well as Bweremana in the adjacent North Kivu province.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Congo’s military acknowledged that the rebels achieved “breakthroughs” in both Minova and Bweremana, although it did not verify the capture of these towns by M23.
The March 23 Movement, or M23, is a militant organization primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis that separated from the Congolese army over a decade ago. The group gained notoriety in 2012 when its forces took Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and the largest city in eastern Congo, located near the Rwandan border.
M23 is among approximately 100 armed factions competing for control in the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo, contributing to a protracted conflict that has resulted in one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, displacing over 7 million individuals.
Congo, along with the United States and U.N. experts, has accused Rwanda of providing support to M23, a claim that Rwanda has consistently denied.
M23 has achieved notable progress in eastern Congo over the past few weeks. Earlier this month, the rebels seized control of the crucial mining town of Masisi in North Kivu, which serves as an important supply route to Goma.
Minova, located on the shores of Lake Kivu, is a strategically vital port and a key transit hub for numerous agricultural products destined for Goma, situated approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) away.
According to a report released by the United Nations refugee agency on Monday, more than 237,000 individuals have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo since the start of this year.
