Wed Jan 22 01:30:16 IST 2025: ## M23 Rebels Seize Key Town in Eastern DR Congo, Displacing Thousands
**Goma, DR Congo** – The M23 rebel group has captured the strategically important town of Minova in eastern DR Congo, further escalating the ongoing conflict and displacing thousands more civilians, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The seizure of Minova, a crucial supply route for the provincial capital Goma, follows the capture of several other towns, including Lumbishi, Numbi, Shanje in South Kivu province, and Bweremana in North Kivu.
The Congolese army acknowledged rebel advances but stopped short of confirming the complete loss of Minova and Bweremana. The M23’s gains represent a significant escalation in the conflict, which has seen the group steadily expand its territory since its resurgence in 2022.
The ongoing violence has forced over 237,000 people from their homes this year alone, according to the UN refugee agency, adding to the millions already displaced in the decades-long conflict. The fighting has also cut off many supply routes to Goma, leading to reliance on often-dangerous lake crossings. International aid organizations based in Minova have temporarily suspended operations due to the security situation.
The conflict, involving numerous armed groups vying for control of the mineral-rich region, has claimed approximately six million lives since 1998. Concerns are rising in Goma, with residents fearing the spread of fighting into the city itself. The DRC and the UN accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23, an allegation Rwanda denies. The situation remains volatile, with the humanitarian crisis deepening by the day.
First Piper 