On Wednesday, M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, advanced deeper into eastern Congo, reaching the outskirts of Walikale just a day after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda called for an immediate ceasefire.
Residents in the area reported hearing gunfire near the Nyabangi neighborhood of Walikale. Some locals described the sounds of conflict, while an unnamed military source confirmed that the rebels were engaged in clashes with Congolese soldiers and pro-government militias following a surprise attack on an army position located just outside the town.
Walikale, which has a population of approximately 15,000 and is situated in a mineral-rich area, represents the furthest west the M23 rebels have penetrated during their swift offensive this year.
Located about 125 kilometers (80 miles) northwest of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo that fell to the rebels in January, Walikale positions the M23 fighters within 400 kilometers of Kisangani, the country’s fourth-largest city.
This assault occurred while the presidents of Congo and Rwanda were engaged in their first direct discussions in Qatar on Tuesday, where they called for an immediate ceasefire in the volatile region.
M23 is one of around 100 armed groups competing for control in the mineral-rich eastern Congo near the Rwandan border, contributing to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with over 7 million people displaced.
U.N. experts indicate that the rebels receive support from approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops and have expressed intentions to advance as far as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, which is about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the east.
Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Council initiated a commission to investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and killings resembling “summary executions” committed by both factions.
