
Faith Nyasuguta
M23 rebels seized Minova, a key town in eastern Congo’s South Kivu province, authorities confirmed. Minova, strategically located on the shores of Lake Kivu, serves as a major supply route for Goma, the provincial capital situated 45 kilometers away. The capture has triggered a mass exodus as civilians flee in the face of renewed offensives by the rebel group.
South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi stated that the M23 rebels had also taken control of the mining towns of Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje in South Kivu, as well as Bweremana in neighboring North Kivu province. Congo’s military acknowledged the rebels’ “breakthroughs” in Minova and Bweremana but did not confirm the complete capture of the towns.
The March 23 Movement, or M23, is a militant group formed by ethnic Tutsis who defected from the Congolese army over a decade ago. The group gained international attention in 2012 when it captured Goma, North Kivu’s capital and eastern Congo’s largest city near the Rwandan border.

M23 is among approximately 100 armed groups vying for control in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, which has been plagued by conflict for decades. This unrest has fueled one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with over seven million people displaced. The group has been advancing steadily in recent weeks, capturing several strategic towns, including Masisi in North Kivu earlier this month, another critical supply route for Goma.
Minova’s significance lies in its role as a vital transit point for agricultural goods destined for Goma. Its loss to M23 marks another blow to the government’s control over eastern Congo. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported on Monday that over 237,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict since the start of the year.
M23’s resurgence has reignited tensions between Congo and Rwanda, with Kinshasa, the United States, and U.N. experts accusing Rwanda of supporting the rebel group, allegations that Kigali denies.

The situation remains volatile as Congo’s military struggles to reclaim lost territory amid M23’s relentless advances. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with displaced families in urgent need of aid and stability.
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