The M23 armed group has taken control of Walikale, a critical mining hub in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking its latest territorial gain in the country’s east, security and local sources said Thursday.
The capture of the town, home to around 60,000 people, represents the farthest west the anti-government group has pushed since it first emerged in 2012.
“Walikale-centre is occupied by the M23… We retreated to avoid human losses,” an officer in the DRC’s military (FARDC) told AFP, stating that government forces had moved roughly 30 kilometres (20 miles) away to Mubi.
A separate security source confirmed the town’s takeover and reported that clashes also took place in Mubi on Wednesday.
The ongoing offensive had already disrupted mining activities earlier this month. Alphamin, a major mining company, evacuated its staff and suspended operations at the Bisie mine, the world’s third-largest source of tin ore cassiterite, located in Walikale District, North Kivu Province. The region is also home to several gold mines.
M23’s rapid territorial expansion in the mineral-rich east has pushed Congolese forces out of large areas in North and South Kivu provinces, raising fears of an escalating regional conflict.
The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 to gain control of the area’s valuable mineral resources. Rwanda, however, denies providing military assistance. A UN expert report found that Rwanda has deployed approximately 4,000 troops in eastern DRC to aid the armed group.
As tensions rise, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame held unexpected talks in Doha this week, later voicing support for a ceasefire. However, the details of any agreement remain unclear, with mediator Qatar stating that further negotiations are necessary.
