The M23 rebel group has seized control of the town of Kalembe in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), significantly expanding its presence in the region.
According to local sources, the Tutsi-led M23, which has been actively involved in an insurgency in the DRC's volatile eastern regions since 2022, took over Kalembe on Sunday morning. The rebels had been stationed roughly 10 kilometers away for nearly eight months before launching their assault.
M23’s takeover came after the Congolese armed forces and the Wazalendo, an alliance of government-loyal militias, were pushed out. Although no direct attacks were reported on the civilian population, many residents fled to the nearby town of Pinga, seeking safety.
Did you read this?
Congo, along with the United Nations, has long accused Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and weaponry. However, Rwanda denies this, asserting it has only taken defensive actions.
Despite these denials, tensions between the two countries remain high, especially as negotiations continue in Luanda, Angola, as part of efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Former Congolese lawmaker Juvenal Munobo has indicated that M23 may be interested in controlling the gold mines near Kalembe, given the eastern region's rich mineral resources.
In September, the United Nations reported that M23 was generating hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly from illegally smuggled minerals in the territories it has captured.
The ongoing conflict in North Kivu province has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region, with approximately 2.6 million people displaced as of late September, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
As the situation worsens, international pressure builds for a peaceful resolution.
