KEY POINTS
- M23 rebels advance near Goma, displacing thousands of civilians.
- Control of mining regions fuels the group’s financial resources.
- Regional tensions rise as mediation efforts face setbacks.
Thousands of Congolese civilians are fleeing their homes as the M23 rebel group advances further into the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the conflict alarmingly close to Goma.
The rebel offensive has seized significant territory, marking the group’s most extensive expansion since it reignited its insurgency in 2022.
The M23, a Tutsi-led rebel faction, accuses the government of failing to honor a 2009 peace agreement aimed at integrating Congolese Tutsis into the national army and administration.
With over 8,000 fighters, many of whom joined the group in recent months, the rebels have now gained control of key towns, including Minova and parts of Sake, which are near Goma, a city of 2 million people.
A growing humanitarian crisis
The rapid escalation has created a humanitarian crisis. Families are packing their belongings and walking miles to Goma’s outskirts, seeking refuge from the violence.
Nzulo, a makeshift camp approximately 15 kilometers from Goma, has seen an influx of displaced residents, including Kalehe native Alice Maombi Tulinado, who expressed her fears: “We did not see the war coming upon us. Now it is in our homes.”
Goma faces increased vulnerability from rebels because its proximity to conflict regions has cut off essential supply routes serving the city.
A Congolese researcher, Fred Bauma, described how rebel control of Minova positioned them to monitor critical commercial routes and access critical mining industries.
Mining revenue fuels the conflict
M23’s hold on resource-rich areas is a critical factor in its ability to sustain its campaign.
The group has controlled Rubaya, a coltan-mining region essential for electronics manufacturing, for over a year. The revenue from a production tax generates approximately $800,000 monthly.
The group has shifted its focus toward Numbi where extensive quantities of gold as well as tin and tantalum and other valuable minerals exist setting the stage for extended resource exploitation activities.
This financial support serves to improve group operations and increase its capabilities for additional expansion.
According to Reuters, the Congolese army has struggled to contain the rebel advances, prompting a buildup of heavy weapons near Nzulo.
The Provincial authorities took action to limit Lake Kivu boat traffic to stop inhabitants from getting displaced and protect against rebel invasions into Goma.
Tensions with neighboring Rwanda
The conflict increased regional hostility when Congo declared Rwanda responsible for M23 rebel aid.
Rwanda rejects these allegations, but still, international observers continue to monitor how regional stability functions in the area.
The battlefield continues to determine the outcome of the escalating conflict because mediating groups including Angola have failed to achieve a ceasefire agreement.
“The next move has to be on the battlefield, which is why we have seen this escalation in recent weeks,” said Jason Stearns, a former United Nations expert.
