Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Capture Key Town in Eastern DR Congo

Fighting has intensified in eastern Congo since peace talks between Kinshasa and Kigali collapsed last month, with the Rwandan-backed M23 seizing the strategic town of Masisi on Saturday.

Rwanda-backed rebels seize towns in Congo

The rebel March 23 Movement, aka M23, reportedly supported by Rwanda, captured the strategic town of Masisi in the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province from the army and pro-government militias on Saturday. Masisi, population 40,000, sits just 50 miles north of Goma, the provincial capital, home to two million Congolese — and is a key sanctuary for refugees.The takeover comes just two days after M23 captured Katale, another town in…

M23 rebels seize vital town in eastern DRC

The group is now in control of Masisi, a town and local administrative centre about 80km from the provincial capital Goma

According to media reports, rebels supported by Rwanda have taken over the town of Masisi in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the second town captured by the M23 rebels within a few days.

M23 seizes key town of Masisi in Congo: Are they going the same route as HTS-led Syrian rebels?

The Tutsi-led M23 group's recent battlefield successes are reminiscent of the offensive carried out by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Syrian rebels who toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime

M23 rebels take key town of Masisi as they advance in eastern DRC

The town of Masisi is in a rich, mountainous location that provides access to the provincial capital of Goma.