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Rebels backed by Rwanda advanced towards Walikale in eastern Congo, ignoring the call for a ceasefire made by the presidents of Congo and Rwanda.
<!– Residents reported hearing gunfire near Walikale’s Nyabangi neighborhood. Some locals described the sounds of conflict, while an anonymous military source confirmed that the rebels were engaged in combat with both Congolese soldiers and pro-government militias after launching a surprise attack on an army position just outside the town.
Walikale, a town with a population of around 15,000 and located in a mineral-rich region, marks the furthest westward point the M23 rebels have reached during their rapid offensive this year.
Walikale is situated about 125 km (80 miles) northwest of Goma, Congo’s largest eastern city, which fell to the rebels in January, this means the M23 fighters are within 400 km of Kisangani, the country’s fourth-largest city.
The attack took place despite meetings between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Qatar the previous day where they agreed on calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict zone.
M23 is one of about 100 armed groups active in eastern Congo’s mineral-rich region near the border with Rwanda, creating the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced.
U.N. experts have confirmed that the rebels are supported by nearly 4,000 troops from Rwanda and have declared their intention to extend their reach to Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.
The U.N. Human Rights Council established a special commission last month to investigate alleged atrocities, which include rape and summary-like executions committed by both parties.
