Rwanda-backed rebels occupy another city in eastern Congo

Rubber, Congo – Civil society officials and residents told the Associated Press that despite an announcement of a unilateral ceasefire earlier this week, Rwanda-backed rebels obtained ground in eastern Congo on Wednesday.

The M23 rebels announced a safe passage of aid and thousands of displaced people on Monday, announcing a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. But the Congolese government described the ceasefire as “false exchange” and the United Nations pointed out reports of fierce fighting with the Congolese forces in mineral-rich areas.

Néné Bintou, president of civil society in South Kivo Province, told the Associated Press that Nyabibwe is under the control of M23. The city is located between Bukavu and Goma, a city that rebels seized last week and remained in control.

“They have taken over the city of Nyabibwe since 9am this morning,” said Moïse Bisimwa, a resident who contacted by phone. “So we're here, we're worried about this. Obviously, the ceasefire announced by M23 is just smoking and mirrors.”

After controlling Goma, a provincial capital, the core of the mineral wealth that 2 million people live in, rebels reportedly are gaining ground in other parts of eastern Congo and in Brunei. Bukavu moves forward.

Rebels said on Monday they did not intend to capture Bukav or other areas, despite their earlier ambitions for the Congolese capital Kinshasa. “But we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and defending civilians and their positions,” said Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesman for the M23 rebels.

UN experts say the M23 rebels are supported by about 4,000 soldiers from neighboring Rwanda. This is far beyond 2012, when they briefly captured Goma and then retreated under international pressure. The M23 is the most effective of more than 100 armed groups active in eastern Congo, a group that is crucial to many of the world's technologies.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame asserted to CNN on Monday that he did not know if his army was in Congo, but his country would do what needed to protect itself.

Experts and analysts expressed concern about Rwanda's goal to bring some control of the Congo to ensure access to minerals. Meanwhile, the Rwanda government has formed a conflict as the Tasi people in eastern Congo defended the ethnic group of the Haitu people associated with the Rwandan genocide thirty years ago, resulting in about 800,000 Tutsi, the moderate Hutes and others died.

Rwandan forces have entered Congo in the past while advocating the same goals, thus fueling millions of Congolese displaced people who have become one of Africa’s longest wars.

Nearby Uganda also deploys soldiers in central Congo, hundreds of provinces in Ituri have fought against another armed group's allied democratic forces under the authorization of the Congolese president since 2021. Colonel Deo Akiiki, deputy spokesman for the Ugandan Army, told the Associated Press that no new soldiers have been deployed to the Congo in recent weeks.

In Goma, Congolese authorities say more than 2,000 people have been killed since the city's occupation and residents continue to bury their bodies.

Congo's UN Humanitarian Coordinator Bruno Lemarquis called for an emergency reopening of Goma Airport, calling it a “life-saving organization” to evacuate injured people and provide assistance.

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Kamale reports on Kinshasa in Congo and pronczuk in Dakar in Senegal. Associated Press writer Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed to the report.