Chaos as M23 Rebels Capture Strategic Town

The M23 rebels have captured Kanyabayonga, a key and strategic town in the  eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where rebel activity aimed at seizing power and controlling the country’s mineral wealth continues to rage.

Reports indicate that M23 rebels seized Kanyabayonga from government forces in the evening of Friday, June 28, 2024. Having advanced to the far north of the Eastern DRC, M23 rebels now have their eyes on the more strategic town of Butembo.

Seated on the northern front in the North Kivu Province, Kanyabayonga now tempts M23 rebels to seek conquest of Butembo, a key commercial town in North Kivu, and Beni.

For about a fortnight until June 28, M23 rebels had been battling government FARDC forces over Kanyabayonga town. After the capture of the town, M23 rebels are telling locals not to flee saying their town has been “liberated.”

The rebels, reports further say, are telling locals in the town with a population of about 60,000 people that they are determined to fight until Kinshasa has fallen and President Felix Tshisekedi, who won a new term of office in December 2023, removed.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda and its president Paul Kagame of backing M23 rebels. Kigali denies these claims. Both President Kagame and Tshisekedi have threatened each other, saying either country was ready for war as tensions between the two countries, neighbors and members of the East African Community, escalated. (See Details Here and There).

In addition to Rwanda, a UN panel of experts has claimed that Uganda also supports M23 rebels, with veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda named among those working with the rebels after he met them in Kampala and attempted to help them meet with top diplomats from the West. (Read Story Here).