GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo’s M23 rebels have seized the eastern town of Minova, a main supply route for the provincial capital Goma, a rebel spokesperson and the provincial governor said on Tuesday.
The Tutsi-led M23 group has been waging a renewed insurgency in the Central African country’s east since 2022. Congo and the United Nations accuse neighbouring Rwanda of backing the group with its own troops and weapons. Rwanda denies this.
“Minova is in our hands,” said Corneille Nangaa, leader of the anti-government Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes M23.
The fall of the town could put the key eastern city of Goma, around 40 km away, in the rebels’ sights. The town’s capture was confirmed by provincial governor Jean-Jacques Purusi.
Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya told Reuters the government had been monitoring the situation since 5 a.m. local time (0400 GMT).
(Reporting by Yassin Kombi, Djaffar Al Katanty and Stanis Bujakera; writing by Anait Miridzhanian; editing by Jason Neely and Ros Russell)
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