Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized control of Nyabibwe, a mining town in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to eight sources on Wednesday, 5th February.
This capture appears to violate the unilateral ceasefire the rebels declared earlier this week.
The town’s capture brings the rebels closer to the provincial capital, Bukavu, located about 70 km (40 miles) to the south. Despite the M23 rebels stating last week they had no intention of capturing Bukavu, the fall of Nyabibwe suggests otherwise.
Eight sources, including local officials, civil society representatives, rebels, and an international security source, confirmed the town’s fall.
“There have been clashes since 5 a.m., and it was at 9 a.m. that the town fell into the hands of the rebels. They’re in the centre of the town at the moment,” said a civil society leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Nyabibwe is a commercial hub located between Goma, the capital of North Kivu province—captured by the rebels last week—and Bukavu. The area is known for its mining operations, producing gold, coltan, and other valuable metals. Congo’s Communications Minister, Patrick Muyaya, told Reuters that the rebels violated the ceasefire at night and are facing resistance from Congolese armed forces around Nyabibwe.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance rebel coalition that includes M23, confirmed the rebels had moved into Nyabibwe. “They attacked us and we defended ourselves,” he said.
This latest advance could signal a renewed push by the M23 towards Bukavu, following their capture of Goma last week. Meanwhile, a military court in Congo issued an international arrest warrant for Nangaa on Tuesday, accusing him of war crimes and treason.
The capture of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and heightened fears of a wider regional conflict.
The Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Rwanda of using the M23 to exploit valuable mineral deposits, while Rwanda claims it is acting in self-defence and to protect ethnic Tutsis.
Reuters.
