BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – M23 rebels in eastern Congo said on Sunday they would seize the city of Bunia, the largest city in the northeastern part of the country, overnight, as fighting between government forces and the rebels spread.
The rebels, who have been fighting the government for more than a year, said they had made significant advances against government forces and were poised to take the city, which is a key hub for the region’s mining and agricultural industries.
“We are going to take Bunia tonight,” M23 rebel leader Sultani Makabili said in a radio broadcast. “The enemy is weak and exhausted, and we are ready to finish the job.”
The M23, which is composed of mostly Tutsi rebels, has been fighting the Congolese army and other rebel groups in the eastern part of the country since August 2022. The conflict has resulted in more than 400,000 people fleeing their homes and caused significant humanitarian suffering.
The rebels have been making gains in recent days, catching the government off guard and leaving military sources saying they were struggling to regroup. The United States, which has imposed economic sanctions on the M23, has called for a ceasefire and for the rebels to lay down their arms.
The city of Bunia, which lies near the borders with neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, is a key location for the region’s economy, with mines producing gold, coltan and copper, among other minerals. The city is also a major agricultural producer, with exports of coffee, tea and cocoa.
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the M23’s actions, saying they have committed war crimes and human rights abuses. The group’s leader, General Mawenzi Kalimanzira, is on the UN’s sanctions list, accused of being responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
The UN and other international organizations have repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but so far, no agreement has been reached.
