M23 rebels have taken control of a crucial mining area in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, defying calls from the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC for an immediate end to fighting.
A representative for the Congolese army confirmed that M23 has captured the town of Walikale. According to an officer from Agence France-Presse, the Congolese forces are currently situated approximately 20 miles away in the town of Mubi.
Located in North Kivu province, Walikale is the farthest point to the west that M23 has reached during its rapid advance which began in January. The town is known for its substantial deposits of tin and notable gold mines. Tin is widely utilized for protecting other metals and in numerous industries including food packaging and electronics.
By seizing control of Walikale, the rebels have gained possession of a significant road that connects four provinces in the eastern part of the country, effectively cutting off the army’s positions and positioning themselves within 250 miles of Kisangani, which is the country’s fourth-largest city.
Residents of Walikale reported hearing gunfire in the Nyabangi neighborhood on Wednesday. An army source confirmed that the rebels had overrun a military position outside the town and were engaged in combat with soldiers and pro-government militias.
According to Prince Kihangi, a former provincial official for Walikale, the rebels were spotted at a monument and the Bakusu group office in the town center.
Despite heavy artillery fire throughout Wednesday, the fighting subsided in the evening and gave way to sporadic gunfire, as reported by civil society activist Fiston Misona. He remarked that the Congolese army seems to have halted their resistance, giving the impression that they were being sacrificed.
In late January, M23 captured Goma, the largest city in North Kivu, and subsequently began moving south toward Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city.
Since the conflict escalated in January, it has resulted in the deaths of over 7,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes. The conflict has roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and is considered the worst escalation in over a decade.
M23, supported by Rwanda, is one of many armed groups competing with Congolese forces for control of the mineral-rich eastern provinces. The group claims its objective is to safeguard the interests of Congolese Tutsi and other minorities, including protecting them from Hutu rebel groups that fled to the DRC following their involvement in the genocide. Conversely, the DRC, the US, and other countries accuse Rwanda of backing M23 to exploit the region’s mineral resources.
The capture of Walikale occurred a day after the presidents of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda, Paul Kagame, met in Qatar for their first direct talks since January and urged for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Talks between the DRC and M23 were initially scheduled to take place in Angola on Tuesday following Tshisekedi’s government’s change in stance to engage with the rebels. However, M23 withdrew from the negotiations citing EU sanctions against some of its leaders and Rwandan officials.
Contributions to this report came from AFP, Reuters, and the Associated Press.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/20/m23-rebels-capture-strategic-mining-hub-of-walikale-in-eastern-drc
