Joseph Isangura
The M23 rebel group has taken control of Nyabibwe, a key mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, despite announcing a ceasefire earlier this week.
The capture of Nyabibwe, located along Lake Kivu in South Kivu province, has raised concerns as the rebels move closer to Bukavu, the provincial capital, roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) away.
Fighting erupted early Wednesday morning, with heavy clashes reported between M23 fighters and government forces. According to local sources, the rebels gained full control of Nyabibwe by mid-morning. “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 center of the town at the moment,” a civil society leader confirmed, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Nyabibwe is a strategic economic hub, home to lucrative gold, coltan, and other mineral mines. Its capture positions M23 between Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, which the rebels seized last week, and Bukavu, raising fears that the group may advance further south. Just last week, M23 leaders insisted they had no plans to capture Bukavu, but their latest move suggests otherwise.
The Congolese government has condemned the takeover, accusing M23 of violating the ceasefire agreement. Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya stated that government forces were resisting the rebels’ advance. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance—a rebel coalition that includes M23—acknowledged their presence in Nyabibwe but insisted they acted in self-defense. “They attacked us, and we defended ourselves,” he said.
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Meanwhile, a Congolese military court has issued an international arrest warrant for Nangaa, accusing him of war crimes and treason. The ongoing conflict has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The situation in eastern Congo remains highly volatile. The Congolese government has long accused neighboring Rwanda of backing M23 to exploit the region’s rich mineral resources—an allegation Rwanda denies, insisting its actions are purely defensive and aimed at protecting ethnic Tutsis.
With tensions escalating and diplomatic efforts failing to stop the violence, fears are growing that the conflict could spill into a broader regional crisis.
