The March 23 Movement (M23), a rebel group reportedly supported by Rwanda, has seized control of the town of Masisi in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This is the second town captured by the group in two days, following their takeover of Katale on Saturday.
A day after capturing Katale, M23 captured the town of Masisi in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to various reports.
This is the second town seized by the M23 in a few days in the mineral-rich North Kivu province.
More in the #Worldaffairs prog@bbisimwa pic.twitter.com/h7czq6sfGK— NKUNDA BOSCO NEMEYIMANA (@nkunda_bosco) January 5, 2025
According to reports, there were injuries among civilians, but no fatalities. Residents reported intense clashes between the rebels and the Congolese army, with sporadic gunfire forcing many civilians to flee. Some sought refuge in the local hospital and parish, while others fled to nearby villages like Nyabiondo.
The M23 was formed in 2012 by former members of the Congolese army, claiming to defend the Tutsi minority in the DRC against discrimination and persecution. Although initially defeated in 2013, the group resurged in 2021, taking control of vast areas in North Kivu.
Masisi lies 80 kilometers north of Goma, North Kivu’s provincial capital. The city, with a population of two million, was briefly occupied by M23 in 2012. The rebels’ recent advances have raised concerns about the potential for a renewed assault on Goma, a major economic and logistical hub.
“It is with dismay that we learn of the capture of Masisi center by the M23,” Alexis Bahunga, deputy of North Kivu province, where the town is located, declared on Saturday.
“The capture of the town of Masisi plunges the territory into a serious humanitarian crisis… we ask the government to consider holistic measures aimed at strengthening the logistical and operational capacity of the FARDC (Congolese army),” Bahunga added.
M23 has taken control of large areas in eastern DRC since 2021, displacing thousands of people and triggering a severe humanitarian crisis. A 2024 United Nations report accused Rwanda of deploying 3,000 to 4,000 troops in eastern DRC to support the M23 rebel group – an allegation Rwanda denies.
