The rebel group M23 and Rwandan troops launched a new offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday.
In South Kivu province, they captured the mining town of Nyabibwe, located about 100 kilometres from the provincial capital, Bukavu, according to security and humanitarian sources cited by AFP.
The anti-government group and their Rwandan allies initiated intense battles against the Congolese armed forces at dawn, these sources reported.
Last week, the M23, together with Rwandan forces, had captured Goma, the capital of the neighbouring North Kivu province, and declared a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire, set to be effective from Tuesday.
The latest offensive proves that the ceasefire was “a sham,” stated the Congolese government spokesperson to AFP.
Eastern DRC is rich in minerals, including coltan. Tantalum, extracted from coltan, is used in many consumer products like mobile phones, laptops, cameras, and gaming consoles.
The income from mines under M23 control helps the group finance its fighters and acquire weapons.
