M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have captured the eastern Congolese town of Minova, bringing them within 40 kilometers of the provincial capital, Goma. This latest victory follows the rebels' capture of Masisi two weeks prior and intensifies the ongoing conflict in the mineral-rich region. The fighting has displaced over 200,000 people and resulted in a surge of casualties in Goma.
Government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo are battling M23 rebels in the east of the country. M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda , have seized control of the eastern town of Minova, according to multiple sources. The capture of the city places the rebels within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of Goma , the provincial capital, a strategically important city situated near the border with Rwanda .
This advance follows the M23's capture of Masisi two weeks prior, prompting a Congolese army counteroffensive to reclaim the town. Intense fighting has raged for months between the rebels and government forces in the mineral-rich region, displacing over 200,000 people from their homes. The Reuters news agency cites Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23, as stating that 'Minova is in our hands'. A contact in Goma who spoke to the BBC corroborated the report, confirming that Minova had fallen to the rebels. The conflict has also resulted in a surge of wounded individuals seeking treatment at hospitals in the provincial capital. According to the AFP news agency, citing Red Cross officials, the influx of casualties has been significant. Myriam Favier, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in North Kivu province, told AFP, 'Between the 1st and 21st of December, we saw 100 patients, and between the 1st and 20th of January, we had 211 patients.'Since 2021, the M23 has intermittently engaged in fighting and seized large portions of eastern DR Congo. The violence has triggered the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Last year, there were fears that the rebels might advance towards Goma, a city estimated to have a population between one and two million. A temporary ceasefire occurred in late July, but heavy fighting resumed in October and escalated toward the end of the year. On Monday, Amnesty International reported a concerning increase in attacks on civilian areas by both sides in the past month, resulting in devastating consequences for civilians. The M23 is frequently accused by DR Congo and the UN of acting as Rwanda's proxy force, although Rwanda denies these allegations. However, in 2022, Rwanda did not deny a UN report indicating that approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers were fighting alongside the M23 in DR Congo. Numerous diplomatic initiatives by neighboring countries and international actors to resolve the conflict have been unsuccessful. The most recent talks, scheduled for December 15th, between the leaders of Rwanda and DR Congo, were abruptly canceled at the last minute due to disagreements between the countries' leaders
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