M23 Rebels Capture Strategic Town of Minova in Eastern DRC
Minova Falls to M23 Rebels, Threatening Goma's Supply Routes
Minova, a crucial trade hub in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has fallen to the M23 rebels, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Authorities confirmed the capture of the town, which serves as a vital supply link for the provincial capital, Goma.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province, announced on Tuesday that M23 had also seized the mining towns of Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje within South Kivu, alongside Bweremana in neighboring North Kivu province. The Congolese army acknowledged that rebels had made “breakthroughs” in Minova and Bweremana but did not confirm the full extent of the takeover.
Escalation of M23 Insurgency
The M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, is an armed group primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis that splintered from the Congolese army over a decade ago. Since its resurgence in 2022, the group has steadily expanded its control in the mineral-rich eastern regions of the DRC, a hotbed of conflict involving nearly 100 armed groups.
The decades-long unrest in eastern Congo has led to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Since 1998, an estimated six million people have lost their lives, and approximately seven million have been internally displaced. The United Nations refugee agency reported on Monday that more than 237,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of this year alone.
The DRC and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of providing M23 with military support, including troops and weapons. However, Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations.
Fighting Near Goma Raises Alarm
Intensified clashes around Goma have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, prompting widespread concern among residents. The city, which briefly fell under M23 control in 2012, remains a focal point in the conflict.
Speaking from Goma, Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani reported that “people in Goma are worried about bombs from the front line reaching neighborhoods in the city.”
The fighting has disrupted key roadways leading into Goma, forcing traders and civilians to use overcrowded boats on Lake Kivu to transport essential supplies. The perilous crossings have led to frequent shipwrecks.
In response to the escalating violence, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that most international organizations and NGOs operating in Minova have temporarily suspended their activities.
The worsening conflict underscores the urgent need for international intervention to stabilize the region and prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.