M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, have captured the strategic town of Masisi in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local officials confirmed on January 5th. 

Masisi, located 80km northwest of the provincial capital Goma, is an administrative centre in the resource-rich North Kivu province. This marks another significant territorial gain for the Tutsi-led group, which has been conducting a renewed insurgency since 2022.

Despite a ceasefire agreement, fighting has escalated in recent weeks, displacing over 1.9 million people and exacerbating the region’s humanitarian crisis. Businesses in Masisi remain closed, with aid operations suspended amid fears of a counteroffensive by Congolese forces.

DRC and UN officials accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 with troops and weapons, allegations that the Rwandan authorities firmly deny. Talks between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, mediated by Angola, collapsed in December, further stalling peace efforts. The Congolese government has pledged to restore state authority in the region.

Masisi’s capture underscores growing instability in the DRC, where M23 claims to protect the Tutsi population but is accused of looting minerals. As the conflict deepens, fears mount over a potential threat to Goma, a major political and commercial hub.

Image Credit: Source