By : Lloyd Mahachi
Rebel forces, backed by Rwanda, have taken control of the town of Masisi in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the second town captured by the M23 group in just two days, in the North Kivu province.
The M23 rebels have been actively engaged in the region since 2021, and their actions have resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. The capture of Masisi is a significant development in the ongoing conflict in the region.
Efforts to mediate the conflict have been led by Angola, with talks between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. However, those negotiations collapsed last month, leaving the region in a continued state of instability.
The Congolese authorities have not yet commented on the loss of the town. Masisi, which has a population of about 40,000, is a strategic location, about 80km (50 miles) north of the North Kivu provincial capital Goma.
Goma was briefly occupied by the M23 rebels in 2012, and the current capture of Masisi has raised concerns about the potential for further instability in the region. The M23 rebels have been accused of human rights abuses, including forced recruitment, rape, and summary executions.
The international community has been watching the situation closely, and there are concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region. The United Nations has been involved in efforts to stabilize the region, but the situation remains volatile.
The capture of Masisi by the M23 rebels is a significant setback for efforts to bring peace to the region, and it is unclear what the next steps will be in the conflict. The M23 rebels are a Congolese Tutsi-led rebel military group, primarily based in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They operate mainly in the province of North Kivu, which borders both Uganda and Rwanda. The group’s name comes from the date of the peace accords signed on March 23, 2009, between the Congolese government and the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP).
The conflict in the region is complex, with multiple groups involved, including the M23 rebels, the Congolese government, and other armed groups. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of neighboring countries, including Rwanda and Uganda.
The international community has been working to bring peace to the region, but the situation remains challenging, and the capture of Masisi by the M23 rebels is a significant setback. The region remains volatile, and the potential for further conflict is high.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
