Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, according to news’ sources have infiltrated and seized control of a mining town in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province, in an apparent violation of a unilateral ceasefire they declared this week.
Sources present at the time of the incident told news sources that the major mining area had been raided on late Wednesday takes the rebels a step closer to the provincial capital Bukavu some 70 km (40 miles) south, a city the rebels said last week they had no intention of capturing.
Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya told Reuters rebels violated the ceasefire at night and were facing resistance from Congolese armed forces around Nyabibwe.
“There have been clashes since 5 a.m., and it was at 9 a.m. that the town fell into the hands of the rebels. They’re in the centre of the town at the moment,” said the civil society leader.
Nyabibwe, where mines produce gold, coltan and other metals, is a commercial hub more than halfway between Goma, the capital of North Kivu province that the rebels took last week, and Bukavu.
