Rebel forces supported by Rwanda have seized Masisi, a key town in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, escalating tensions in the conflict-ridden North Kivu province. This marks the second town captured by the M23 group within two days, further extending their control over parts of the mineral-rich region.
The M23, which claims to protect ethnic Tutsis from persecution, has displaced hundreds of thousands of people since its resurgence in 2021. Local officials, including North Kivu assembly member Alexis Bahunga, have described the situation as a “serious humanitarian crisis” and urged the government to bolster the army’s capabilities in the region.
Residents reported that M23 rebels held a meeting in Masisi, asserting they had “come to liberate the country.” Congolese authorities have not yet commented on the loss of the town, which is home to approximately 40,000 people and lies 80 kilometers north of Goma, the provincial capital briefly occupied by M23 in 2012.
The capture of Masisi follows the fall of Katale, another town in the region, as renewed fighting in early December shattered a previous lull in hostilities. Efforts by Angola to mediate between DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame collapsed last month, further complicating the peace process.
The conflict has drawn international attention, with a UN report in July alleging that Rwanda had deployed 4,000 troops to support the M23. Kigali denied the accusations and criticized the Congolese government for failing to address decades of unrest in the east.
Critics accuse Rwanda of exploiting the conflict to gain access to valuable minerals such as gold, cobalt, and tantalum, which are crucial for producing electronics and electric car batteries. Last month, DR Congo announced legal action against Apple over the use of these “blood minerals,” prompting the company to cut ties with suppliers from the region.