The M23 armed group has advanced on a new front in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing two districts in South Kivu province, local sources told AFP on Wednesday.
The group, supported by the Rwandan army, advanced further after mostly taking control of the key eastern city of Goma in North Kivu province following battles with Congolese troops.
On Wednesday morning, the M23 faced no resistance in seizing Kiniezire and Mukwidja in neighboring South Kivu, a local source and residents said.
“There was no fighting” amid the latest advance, said a local civil society leader on condition of anonymity, for security reasons.
Several residents of the two villages, contacted by telephone by AFP, confirmed the capture of the area.
Rich in precious metals, North and South Kivu have been at the heart of more than 30 years of conflict involving scores armed groups, often backed by neighboring countries Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
In South Kivu, the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) have established their main line of defense in the city of Kavumu, which has an airfield.
Bukavu city, capital of South Kivu, could also be threatened if the M23 breaks through the FARDC defenses in Kavumu.
Some of the Congolese forces stationed in Goma and driven out by the offensive of the M23 and the Rwandan army fled the city by boat on Lake Kivu to take refuge in Bukavu.
The M23 “will continue” to advance in eastern DRC, and even beyond, a senior Rwandan diplomat told AFP on Wednesday.
“They will continue in South Kivu, because Goma cannot be an end in itself,” said Vincent Karega, Rwanda’s roving ambassador for the Great Lakes region.
The M23 entered Kalehe territory on January 19, taking control of the mining town of Lumbishi, located 170 kilometers from Bukavu.
Two days later, the armed group, which has made a spectacular resurgence since 2021, seized Minova, a commercial hub linking South Kivu province to Goma.
